U-17 World Cup playoff pairings announced

The group stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar has officially concluded. The tournament has now entered a more intense and decisive phase — the knockout stage, reports the Uzbekistan Football Association press service.

The group stage brought many surprises and revealed a number of promising young talents. Now, every team steps into a stage where mistakes are no longer allowed — the winner advances, and the loser goes home.

Uzbekistan’s U-17 national team finished second in Group “J” with six points, securing a place in the Round of 16. Under the guidance of coach Islombek Ismoilov, the team will face one of Europe’s strongest sides — Croatia. The match will take place on November 14.

Croatia finished second in Group “C” with seven points, falling behind Senegal only on goal difference. As a result, their upcoming clash with Uzbekistan is expected to be highly competitive and intense.

All Round-of-16 pairings have now been confirmed:

• Argentina – Mexico

• Portugal – Belgium

• Switzerland – DPR Korea

• Ireland – Canada

• USA – Morocco

• Zambia – Mali

• Brazil – Uganda

• France – Burkina Faso

• South Korea – USA

• Venezuela – Egypt

• Japan – South Africa

• Austria – Czech Republic

• Croatia – Uzbekistan

• Senegal – Paraguay

• Germany – Colombia

• Italy – Tunisia

The matches will be played on November 14 and 15. This stage will determine the fate of the tournament — each game will be worthy of a final.

For Uzbekistan, reaching the knockout phase is not just another match but a chance to once again prove their strength on the world stage. The team impressed fans with their performances in the group stage. Now, the goal is clear — to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in the nation’s history.

Head coach Islombek Ismoilov stated:
“The boys believe in themselves. With every match, they gain experience. Against Croatia, we’ll take the field to prove we are a strong and united team.”

Experts note that at this stage, not only individual skill but also team discipline, tactical awareness, and mental stability will play decisive roles.

The knockout stage in Qatar promises to attract the world’s attention — because tournaments like this are where future stars are born. Uzbek fans, in turn, are waiting with hope and pride for another miracle from their young heroes.

Shuhrat Razzakov

Editor of «ZAMIN.UZ»