Match schedule revealed for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 group stage

Doha, Qatar: The match schedule has been revealed for the group stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.

The tournament will take place from November 19 to December 13, with the finest youth international teams on the planet set to compete for global glory.

The inaugural 48-team edition of the event was held in Qatar last year and proved a huge success, with packed-out crowds savouring the chance to watch exceptional young talents showcase their skills on the world stage. macnevers-and-co.beer

More thrills are in store at this year’s event, with a host of eye-catching match-ups set in the U-17 World Cup draw.

A vibrant and colourful atmosphere can be expected when host nation Qatar takes on Egypt in Group A.

Spain and Morocco will face off in a tantalising Group H clash, while there will be a showdown between the reigning U-17 South American and Asian champions when Colombia and Japan go head-to-head in Group L.

The tournament will again be held at the state-of-the-art Aspire Zone complex, with eight matches per day during the group stage and the Round of 32 phase.

From Saturday to Wednesday, the action will begin at 15:30 local time, with the last kick-off at 18:30.

On Thursdays and Fridays, the action will begin at 16:00, with the last kick-off at 19:00.

The final will be staged at the Khalifa International Stadium on December 13 at 19:00 local time.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the spectacular arena, which hosted eight matches at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as well as the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 final.

Ticket information will be announced in due course.

Budapest: If a rock-solid Arsenal could not stop Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain, one steward clutching a rope stood no chance.

The Spanish manager hurdled the obstacle and sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate the "back-to-back" that cemented the French side in football history, only the second team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era.

This time, PSG truly earned it. Last season they cruised to a 5-0 win against an underwhelming Inter Milan, but in Budapest they battled over 120 minutes in a 1-1 draw and edged Arsenal on penalties.

That followed the semi-final classic 6-5 win over Bayern, highlighting all the qualities of PSG's game over the two legs.

"The coach said it's even harder to win twice," said PSG captain Marquinhos. "We had the whole team (fighting) and the mental strength."

It did not take long for the Brazilian defender to set the next target.

"We have a very young squad -- we can win it a third time in a row," said the skipper.

At 32, Marquinhos is an elder statesman of the team. His centre-back partner Willian Pacho is 24, Nuno Mendes 23, Joao Neves 21, Vitinha 26, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 25, Bradley Barcola 23, many still to hit their peak.

French winger Desire Doue, only 20, also had his eyes on the next prize, before he had even lifted this one.

"The first one was incredible, but more than anything we had that desire to get the second, to make history once again and become legends," he told broadcaster M6.

"I love this club so much, and it's not over! We've got the second, we'll keep working and go get the third."

Record 15-time winners Real Madrid won the Champions League three times between 2016-2018. Before that the last teams to complete a hat-trick were Bayern Munich and Ajax in the 1970s. Real Madrid also won it five years running back at the competition's inception.

"We can talk about the back-to-back-to-back. We can talk about these type of objectives, our club is worthy of it, our supporters," said Luis Enrique.

Although the coach was reticent to proclaim his side would clinch the trophy again, it was clear he enjoyed the sound of the phrase.

Lucho's fingerprints

In many ways Luis Enrique is the defining figure of this PSG project, with the commercial superstars departed, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and many more.

After Mbappe left in 2024, Lucho, as he is nicknamed, said his team would become even stronger.

"Having a player who moved wherever he wanted meant there were parts of the game I couldn't control... next year, I'll control everything. Everything," he said. And he did. And it made PSG stronger.

The club still invested heavily in players, but player tailored to Luis Enrique's plans, willing to run endlessly for the collective, and keep egos in check.

Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Pacho, Neves, arrived, among others. Luis Enrique converted Ousmane Dembele into a brilliant central attacker, who presses impressively, after several flaky seasons at Barcelona beset by injuries.

Dembele won the Ballon d'Or last season. The coach said the team would strengthen to help achieve a potential three-peat, but it was tricky to find ones who would not upset the balance and culture he has created.

"It's very difficult to find the right ones to play in our team," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"We do need new players to refresh certain positions, but we've been champions of Europe for two years... piano piano (slowly, slowly)."

The coach said he was "not interested" in whether he was becoming a legend or not, after winning the competition for a third time, a feat achieved by just four other managers.

Yet it is clear from inside and outside, the effect the Asturian has had on a club built in his image, capable of creating a modern football dynasty.

"His fingerprints are all over this team," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, admitting he was inspired by Luis Enrique.

Dembele, who netted PSG's goal from the penalty spot, summed up Luis Enrique's status by posting a photo of the coach on his Instagram feed after the triumph, along with the phrase "You can't understand it," the name of a documentary about the coach.

Everyone does understand it now. Two straight Champions League trophies are explanation enough.

Luis Enrique is an endurance racer, who ran an ultra-marathon in the Sahara desert. So this might just be the beginning.

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Doha, Qatar: As the countdown enters its final 10 days, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is moving into its final phase of preparation. Hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, the tournament will break new ground as the first 48-team edition, making it the biggest World Cup in history.

The expanded format marks the most significant change in the tournament’s structure since 1998, increasing the number of participating nations and matches.

A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 host cities over 39 days. From Mexico City’s historic Estadio Azteca to MetLife Stadium in New York-New Jersey, which will stage the final, the tournament spans multiple climates and football cultures across North America.

The expansion from 32 to 48 teams introduces a new competitive layer - 12 groups of four, followed by a round of 32 - placing greater emphasis on squad depth, rotation and injury management than any previous edition.

The United States will host the majority of matches, with Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle and other major hubs forming the backbone of the competition.

Mexico brings heritage and intensity through Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, while Canada completes the tri-nation structure with Toronto and Vancouver.

The opening match between Mexico and South Africa is scheduled for June 11 at Estadio Azteca, the iconic venue that bridges football history with its modern expansion. The final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.

HE Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States, welcomed the national team upon their arrival in the United States ahead of their participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Pictures: QFA pic.twitter.com/A9rJtycuRK

— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) May 31, 2026

Qatar and the Arab surge on the global stage

For Qatar, the 2026 edition carries added significance. Having made their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, Al Annabi return as a qualified team for the first time through the competitive route.

The focus remains clear: competitiveness, progression, and a push to reach the knockout stage, a target that continues to shape their long-term international ambitions.

The team under coach Julen Lopetegui is eyeing a knockout stage berth.

“We have the ambition and the dream to be competitive in the World Cup because we won our right to be there,” Lopetegui said in a recent interview.

“No one gave us this opportunity. We earned it and now we have to be ready to do our best, being humble and understanding the level of our opponents.”

They will be joined by a strong Arab presence, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq and Jordan - the most extensive Arab representations in World Cup history. Morocco’s semi-final run at Qatar 2022 remains the benchmark, raising expectations across the Arab world as teams arrive in 2026 with greater belief and visibility.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni arrives with staff members ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Kansas City International Airport yesterday. (AFP)

Messi, Ronaldo and the changing of the guard

The football narrative, however, remains defined by its stars and shifting eras.

Lionel Messi will lead Argentina’s title defence after the 2022 triumph in Qatar, with speculation growing that this could be his final World Cup appearance.

His influence remains central not only to Argentina’s ambitions, but to the emotional arc of a generation that has shaped modern football.

Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, has said the 2026 tournament will be his last before retirement.

Across five World Cups, he has delivered defining moments and landmark goals, yet the World Cup remains the only major honour missing from a career built on dominance at every other level.

A general view of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The stadium will host Qatar's first match against Switzerland on June 13. (AFP)

Kylian Mbappe arrives as one of football’s defining figures, already a World Cup winner and finalist by the age of 27.

Behind him comes a new generation led by Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland with Endrick, Florian Wirtz and Desire Doue among the young stars expected to shape the future of the game. Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, enters the tournament in the finest form of his career.

Neymar, if fit, remains Brazil’s creative reference point, carrying both experience and expectation in what could also be a final global tournament cycle for several veterans.

Together, they underline a clear transition point in world football, from long-established icons to a new generation increasingly shaping the global stage.

Dubai Celebrates RCB’s Glorious IPL Finale Victory as Anis Sajan, Mr. Cricket UAE, Hosts an Unforgettable Fan Experience Dubai, UAE: Dubai’s cricket fever reached another level as Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans across the city erupted in celebration after RCB once again emerged victorious, defeating Gujarat Titans in a thrilling IPL finale. Among the biggest celebrations … Continue reading RCB Triumph: Dubai Celebrates IPL Finale with Anis Sajan’s Fan Experience →