FIFA U-17 World Cup
The West Asian side had to endure four editions of watching from the sidelines before achieving qualification to Qatar 2025 edition thanks to a quarter-final finish at the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025.
Factfile:
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: Round of 16 (2009)
2023 record: Did not qualify
How they got there: AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 quarter-finalists
Head coach: Majed Alzaabi
Fun fact: UAE return to the competition after a 12-year absence, having last featured in the 2013 edition as host
Group C Fixtures: v Costa Rica (Nov 3), v Croatia (Nov 6), v Senegal (Nov 9)
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: Round of 16 (2009)
2023 record: Did not qualify
How they got there: AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 quarter-finalists
Head coach: Majed Alzaabi
Fun fact: UAE return to the competition after a 12-year absence, having last featured in the 2013 edition as host
Group C Fixtures: v Costa Rica (Nov 3), v Croatia (Nov 6), v Senegal (Nov 9)
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 UAE to prepare harder for the global showpiece, with training camps in Thailand and Fujairah.
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 UAE to prepare harder for the global showpiece, with training camps in Thailand and Fujairah.
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Towering striker Majed Adel is the one to look out for with two overseas based midfielders in Jayden Adetiba (Ipswich Town) and Abdalla Hatem (Al Ahly FC) potentially playing crucial roles as well.
UAE open their campaign against four-time quarter-finalists Costa Rica on November 3 before facing Europe’s Croatia three days later.
Alzaabi will be counting on having points from those matches prior to their concluding Group C tie against Senegal on November 9, with the top two sides in the group advancing directly to the Round of 32 with an additional eight spots offered to the best third-placed teams.
UAE open their campaign against four-time quarter-finalists Costa Rica on November 3 before facing Europe’s Croatia three days later.
Alzaabi will be counting on having points from those matches prior to their concluding Group C tie against Senegal on November 9, with the top two sides in the group advancing directly to the Round of 32 with an additional eight spots offered to the best third-placed teams.
