Qatar’s bid to reach the Round of 32 suffered a major setback after a goalless draw against Bolivia in their final Group A match. The hosts dominated play at the Mansour Muftah Pitch but failed to break through a resilient Bolivian defense. Meanwhile, Morocco recorded a historic 16-0 win over New Caledonia, the biggest victory in U-17 World Cup history, keeping their hopes alive of advancing.
The action at Aspire Zone’s Competition Complex wrapped up Groups A, B, C, and D, with several teams advancing to the knockout stage. Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Croatia, and South Africa secured their places, while Egypt, Venezuela, Switzerland, South Korea, and North Korea also progressed based on the results.
Qatar’s Fading Hopes
Qatar’s goalless draw against Bolivia left them with just two points, including one from a draw with South Africa. Their fate now hangs in the balance as they hope to reach the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups. Yazan Mohamed came close to scoring in the first half, while captain Zaid Ktit hit the bar in the second half, but the hosts were unable to capitalize on their chances.
South Africa became the second team from Group A to advance, despite a 3-1 defeat to already-qualified Italy. Samuele Inacio scored twice for Italy, while Antonio Arena added another goal. Shaun Els scored for South Africa, who finished the group with three points.
Morocco’s Historic Win
Morocco’s 16-0 victory over New Caledonia was a dominating performance, with Bilal Soukrat scoring in the third minute. Oualid Ibn Salah added a quick brace, and New Caledonia were further weakened after red cards to Typhan Dreuko and Jean Canehmez. Abdelali Eddaoudi, Ziyad Baha, Nahel Haddani, Ismail El Aoud, and Abdellah Ouazane all scored multiple goals, while Ilyas Hidaoui and Zakari El Khalfioui added one apiece. Morocco also benefited from an own goal, surpassing Spain’s 13-0 win over New Zealand in 1997.
“We’re delighted with this win and the spirit we showed today. This is our true level,” said Morocco captain Hamza Bouhaddi. The win keeps Morocco’s hopes alive of advancing to the next stage.
Other Group Winners
Japan edged already-qualified Portugal 2-1 to top Group B and seal their place in the Round of 32. Takeshi Wada and Taiga Seguchi scored for Japan, while Zeega struck for Portugal. Senegal trounced the United Arab Emirates 5-0, with Bakary Sonko scoring a hat-trick. Croatia defeated Costa Rica 3-1, with Kresimir Rados, Raul Kumar, and Tino Kusanovic scoring for the winners.
Belgium joined Argentina in progressing from Group D with a 2-0 victory over Tunisia. Noah Fernandez and Ali Camara scored for Belgium, while Uriel Ojeda scored a hat-trick as Argentina stayed perfect with a 7-0 victory over Fiji.
The next step for the teams will be the Round of 32, with the knockout stage expected to be intense. The teams that advance will face new challenges, and their performance will be closely watched. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect exciting matches and dramatic twists. The outcome of the remaining matches will determine which teams will move forward and potentially lift the U-17 World Cup trophy.
