The Canadian Men’s U17 National Team booked its spot in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar this November.

The young Reds secured their ticket to the tournament after obtaining a perfect 100% record with four wins in the Concacaf Qualifiers. They defeated Turks and Caicos Islands (6-0), Anguilla (6-0), Curaçao (7-1), and finally, Bermuda (7-1).

It will be Canada’s 9th all-time participation in the U17 World Cup, previously taking part in the 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2011, 2013, 2019, and 2023 editions. Les Rouges have yet to make it past the group stages.

What will the format be?

This year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, doubling the usual 24.

While the tournament format hasn't been officially confirmed, there's a proposal for a brand-new structure that might feel unfamiliar to the football community.

The proposed format would see 48 teams split into four 12-team mini-tournaments. Each mini-tournament would have three groups of four, with the top three teams and the best runner-up advancing to a knockout round. The winners of these knockout rounds would then make up the tournament’s semi-finals. As is usual in FIFA tournaments, every team would be guaranteed at least three group stage matches.

Starting with this year’s tournament, the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup will be played every year, with all five editions from 2025 to 2029 hosted by Qatar.

Who else has qualified already?

As the host nation, Qatar has its spot secured in the competition.

Joining Canada from the Concacaf Qualifying tournament are Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, the United States, Panam, and El Salvador.

Fiji, New Caledonia, and New Zealand qualified via OFC’s 2024 U-16 Championship.

UEFA’s qualification tournament will be played in March, while Conmebol, CAF, and AFC will conclude theirs in April.

When will it be played?

The first game of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be played on November 5, with the grand finale set for November 27.