FIFA under 17s World Cup

What is the current state of football at the under-17 level?

Before delving into the new developments, it is important to take a look at the current state of football at the under-17 level. The last decade has been eventful for youth football, as the game’s governing bodies have tried to find the right way forward. In 2009, the world of youth football was rocked by the discoveries of a large-scale corruption scandal at the Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football) under-17 tournament. Six Caribbean nations withdrew from the tournament for disciplinary reasons, and a full investigation uncovered widespread match-fixing. Unfortunately, these kinds of problems have persisted in the years since. FIFA has been battling to clean up youth football ever since taking over from the now-defunct Concacaf in 1990.

FIFA U-17 World Cup

The FIFA U-17 World Cup is the flagship event for the under-17 age category. It is currently held every two years and has been since the inaugural tournament in 1985, with the next edition set to kick off in October in the United Arab Emirates. The most recent tournament, held in Mexico in 2017, provided many exciting moments and standout performers. A tournament standout was Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who scored four goals and provided three assists. Among the other notable players to watch out for at the upcoming tournament are England’s Phil Foden, Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze, and Japan’s Takefusa Kubo. FIFA will introduce a new competition format for the U-17 World Cup. The tournament will expand to 24 teams, up from 16, with six groups of four and six groups of three. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final taking place in a single location.

FIFA U-16 Youth Development League

The FIFA U-16 Youth Development League was launched by FIFA in 2017, with the inaugural season taking place in 2018 and 2019. This represents a significant step towards developing youth football on a global scale. The competition is held every year over three seasons, with the U-17 edition held in autumn, spring, and summer. The league consists of eight groups of four teams each, with each group hosted by a member association. The tournaments are held over home and away legs, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. The knockout stage is held at a central location, with the semi-finals, third-place match, and final taking place in one stadium.

FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup

The FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup is the top event for female players in this age category. It is currently held every two years, with the next edition set to take place in 2021. The most recent tournament, held in Uruguay in 2018, provided many notable performances and moments. A tournament standout was Haitian forward Jaelin Howell, who scored six goals and provided two assists. Again, many of the top players to watch out for in the upcoming edition can be found in the list above. FIFA will introduce a new competition format for the Women’s U-17 World Cup. The tournament will expand to 24 teams, up from 16, with six groups of four and six groups of three. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final taking place in a single location.

Conclusion

The FIFA under-17 age category is one of the most crucial stages in a footballer’s career. It is at this stage that players need to be exposed to top-level competition regularly to develop as individuals and professionals. With this in mind, FIFA has taken several steps toward the betterment of youth football. The U-17 World Cup will expand in size and be hosted in a central location, while the U-16 Youth Development League will be held every year, rotating between member associations.

The FIFA under-17 age category is one of the most crucial stages in a footballer’s career. It is at this stage that players need to be exposed to top-level competition regularly to develop as individuals and professionals. With this in mind, FIFA has taken several steps toward the betterment of youth football. The U-17 World Cup will expand in size and be hosted in a central location, while the U-16 Youth Development League will be held every year, rotating between member associations.