AFC sees increase in slots for FIFA U-17 World Cup & FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

This escalation in slots increases India’s chances of participation in the tournaments.

In a landmark decision, the FIFA Council has confirmed an increase in the number of slots allocated to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. From the 2025 editions onward, the AFC will boast nine slots in the FIFA U-17 World Cup and four slots in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, signalling a significant boost for Asian nations in the global football arena.

Qatar, having successfully hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, are set to welcome the world once again as they stage the FIFA U-17 World Cup. On the other hand, Morocco will script history as the first African nation to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with both tournaments taking place annually from 2025 to 2029.

The expansion of both the tournaments to 48 and 24 teams respectively, has led to a new allocation of slots for each continent, promising a more inclusive and competitive landscape. For the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the slots are distributed as follows: AFC (9), CAF (10), CONCACAF (8), CONMEBOL (7), OFC (3) and UEFA (11). The FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup will comprise – AFC (4), CAF (5), CONCACAF (4), CONMEBOL (4), OFC (2) and UEFA (5) slots.

This development is particularly encouraging for India, as the increased number of slots for the AFC could pave a smoother path for the nation’s entry into these prestigious competitions, enhancing the prospects for India’s young football talents to compete on the world stage. The move by FIFA is seen as a positive step towards fostering the growth of football across all continents, with a focus on nurturing the next generation of football stars.

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