Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The national youth team kicks off its participation in the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 when it faces Costa Rica at 4:30pm at the Adel Abdullah pitch (No.8) at the Aspire Academy in the Doha suburb of Al Rayyan.
This match is part of the first round of Group C, which includes Croatia and Senegal, who will play at the same time on pitch number 1. The pitches have been named after Qatar’s football legends.
According to Telecom Asia Sport, Majid Al Zaabi, the national team coach, was quoted as saying, “Our participation represents a historic moment for every player in the national team, and an opportunity to prove their abilities to the world. We have worked during the past period to build a clear identity for the team, based on discipline, fighting spirit and teamwork, and we strive to be up to the task.”
Speaking on the first challenge at hand, he added: “The Costa Rican national team is one of the teams that is characterised by physical strength and defensive organisation, and we know their strengths and weaknesses very well.
“The players realise the importance of a strong start in our opening match in the Junior World Cup, and we will play the match with confidence and determination to achieve a positive result that will give us a great morale boost for the rest of the tournament.”
Essam Dhahi, the team manager, stressed the readiness of the young “Whites” to compete while giving a fitness update. Speaking to Aletihad Arabic, he said, “We had a successful training camp in Fujairah and two friendlies against Mali and Bolivia, which provided good preparation for the team.
“There are no significant injuries, except for Mohammed Butti and Johannes Weimer, the Augsburg player, due to injury. We extend our thanks to the Football Association and the Board of Directors for their continuous support and motivation of the players.”
Towering striker Majed Adel is the one to look out for and two overseas-based midfielders in Jayden Adetiba (Ipswich Town) and Abdalla Hatem (Al Ahly FC) potentially playing crucial roles as well.
It wasn’t an easy qualification campaign for head coach Majed Alzaabi, who saw his team tangle with Japan and Australia in a tough Group B. All three teams finished on four points, with qualification to Qatar 2025 only sealed due to a better head-to-head record against Australia.
A quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Uzbekistan only served to fuel the UAE to prepare harder for the global showpiece, with training camps in Thailand and Fujairah.
The World Cup, featuring the stars of tomorrow, will feature a record 48 teams divided into 12 groups, marking the first tournament to be held under the new expanded format.
There are six Arab teams – the UAE, host nation Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. All 104 matches, up to and including the final, will be played across eight stadiums within the Aspire Academy complex, located nine kilometres from the centre of Doha.
