What is the FIFA Youth World Cup?

What is the FIFA Youth World Cup?

The FIFA Youth World Cup is an international football tournament for Under-20 teams. The event is held every two years, with the next one taking place in 2021. The tournament is the world championship for this age group and is the most important youth tournament, exceeding the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The competition is hosted by a different country every two years. The tournament is a successor to the Youth Tournament which was created in 1977 and held every two years until 2002. The event was named the FIFA Youth World Championship between 2002 and 2017. The most recent event took place in 2017 in India, with the next one scheduled for 2021 in Qatar.

When and where is the Youth World Cup?

The Youth World Cup is held every two years. The exact dates of the tournament are decided by FIFA on a four-year cycle. The next Youth World Cup will be hosted in Qatar from 21 September to 15 October 2021. The inaugural tournament took place in Argentina in 1979, while the most recent one was held in 2017 in India. The next tournament is scheduled to take place in Qatar in 2021.

How much is the prize money at the FIFA Youth World Cup?

The prize money for the FIFA U-20 World Cup has increased since the tournament's inception in 1977. The winners now receive $3 million (up $1 million from the last edition in 2017), while the runners-up get $2 million and the third-placed team $1 million. Moreover, the fourth and fifth-placed teams receive $750,000 and $500,000 respectively. The tournament's other participants get $50,000 each.

The different stages of the FIFA Youth World Cup

Pre-tournament phase - The hosts are responsible for determining the pre-tournament phase, although the dates of matches are determined by FIFA. During this period, teams are training and competing in friendly matches in preparation for the actual tournament.

First round - The first round is the group stage and the initial matches are played in the stadium of one of the teams. The teams are divided into eight groups, with four teams in each group. The top two teams from each group, as well as the two best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stage.

Knockout stage - The knockout stage consists of the quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match, and final, with the host team being exempt from the group stage.

Key Facts about the FIFA Youth World Cup

- The FIFA U-20 World Cup is the world championship for footballers under the age of 20. It is the most important football tournament for young players.

- The tournament is held every two years. The most recent competition was held in 2017 in India. The next event will be held in 2021 in Qatar.

- The hosting rights for the tournament are awarded by FIFA.

- The first tournament was held in 1979 in Argentina. Since then, the competition has taken place every two years.

- The U-20 World Cup was initially named the U-19 World Championship. It was only renamed the U-20 World Cup in 2001.

- The competition is the most important youth football tournament.

Key Match-ups to watch for at the 2018 FIFA U-20 WC

There are many key match-ups to watch for at the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but here are a few that stand out:

- France vs. Senegal: The French have a talented team and will be led by their captain and midfielder Paul Pogba, who currently plays for Manchester United. They will face a very talented Senegalese team, led by midfielder Badou Ndiaye, who currently plays for Galatasaray in the Turkish SuperLig.

- Argentina vs. Chile: Argentina has won the U-20 World Cup a record three times, while Chile has never appeared in a final. The Argentinian team will be led by their captain, forward Maximiliano Meza, who currently plays for Atlético Mineiro in the Brazilian Serie A.

- Brazil vs. Honduras: The Brazilians have been one of the strongest teams in world football for many years and have won the U-20 World Cup twice. They will face the Hondurans, who have never appeared in a final.

Conclusion

The FIFA Youth World Cup is the premier tournament for Under-20 teams and the biggest event in youth football. The competition attracts attention from all over the world with 24 teams from across the globe vying for world champion honors. It’s no wonder the tournament has gained such popularity. The 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be hosted in Qatar and it will be the third time the Middle Eastern country hosts the tournament. The upcoming event will be the sixth edition of the competition since it was rebranded from the Youth World Championship.