The Indonesia U-17 national team has officially secured a place in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, currently taking place in Saudi Arabia.
A Crucial Win Over Yemen
Garuda Muda delivered an impressive performance by defeating Yemen 4-1 in their second Group C match at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sport City Stadium in Jeddah on Monday (April 7, 2025). This convincing victory propelled Indonesia to the top of the group standings with a perfect six points from two matches, and secured their place in the tournament's quarter-finals.
According to the tournament regulations, the eight teams that reach the quarter-finals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup automatically qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025. As such, the win over Yemen officially confirmed Indonesia as one of Asia’s representatives on the world stage.
Historic Qualification Through Competition
Although Indonesia previously competed in the 2023 U-17 World Cup as the host nation, this latest achievement carries even greater significance. For the first time in history, the U-17 squad has qualified for the World Cup through the official qualification route, rather than by host selection.
The 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup serves not only as a prestigious regional competition but also as the main qualification pathway to the global tournament. ASEAN nations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand are all vying for a place among Asia's best, showcasing the region’s rising football potential.
Road to Qatar
Indonesia is placed in Group C alongside South Korea, Yemen, and Afghanistan. With two back-to-back wins—against South Korea and Yemen—Garuda Muda firmly sits at the top of the group and holds the head-to-head advantage over its rivals.
The final group match against Afghanistan, scheduled for Friday (April 11), will not affect Indonesia’s qualification status. However, it remains an important fixture for maintaining team momentum and confidence heading into the quarter-finals.
Looking Ahead to Bigger Opportunities
Indonesia’s participation in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will mark the national team’s second appearance in this prestigious tournament. The team previously competed in the 2023 edition, hosted on home soil after Indonesia was chosen to replace Peru, which failed to meet FIFA’s infrastructure requirements.
Unfortunately, Indonesia’s campaign in 2023 ended in the group stage, with two draws and one loss. However, with a more mature squad and valuable international experience now under their belt, Garuda Muda stands a better chance of making a deeper run and improving their global record.
List of Teams Qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025
The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will feature 48 teams from six football confederations. As of early April, 38 countries have secured qualification, including Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia—the first three Asian teams to book their tickets.
Here’s a breakdown of the nations that have already qualified:
- UEFA (Europe): 11 teams, including Germany, France, Italy, England, Portugal, and Croatia. All European slots were filled through the UEFA U-17 Championship.
- CONCACAF (North and Central America): 8 representatives such as Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Honduras.
- CAF (Africa): 8 nations including Morocco, Tunisia, and Mali. Two remaining spots will be contested on April 12.
- OFC (Oceania): 3 teams—Fiji, New Zealand, and New Caledonia—have qualified.
- CONMEBOL (South America): 4 teams have already secured qualification—Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile—with three slots still available.
- AFC (Asia): Only three countries—Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia—have confirmed qualification so far, with five places remaining up for grabs.
- Host Nation: Qatar automatically qualified as the host country in March 2024.
