Doha: Only 10 days remain for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™, which will see 48 teams from across the globe convene in Qatar from 3-27 November to compete for the coveted trophy.
All eyes will be on Qatar, as the country gets set to host the youth tournament for the first time. The hosts will be looking to improve on their best finish, when they claimed fourth place in the 1991 edition of the tournament that took place in Italy – becoming the first Qatari team to reach the Third-Place Playoff.
Speaking to the tournament’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), Jassim Al Tamimi, who captained the 1991 U-17 team at the time, recounts the country’s historic achievement 34 years ago and the significance that the tournament continues to hold for young players.
“My beginnings were like any Qatari youth, playing football in the neighbourhood. When I was selected to be part of the team for the 1991 U-17 World Cup, it was a dream come true,” said Al Tamimi, who eventually played for the Qatar senior national team from 1996–2004.
During the 1991 tournament, Al Tamimi’s squad was drawn into Group B, alongside Australia, Congo and Mexico. After a slow start with a 0-0 draw against Congo, and a 1-0 defeat to Mexico, Al Tamimi’s winning goal in the 76th minute against Australia, launched the Young Maroons out of the group stage. The team would go on to beat the USA in the Quarter-Finals, before losing to eventual champions Ghana in a penalty shootout in the Semi-Finals. Despite narrowly losing to Argentina in the Third-Place Playoff, the Young Maroons made history by finishing fourth in the tournament.
