Uganda’s U17 national football boys’ team, the Cubs will make their long-awaited debut on the global football stage at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, having been drawn in Group K alongside international heavyweights France, Chile, and Canada.
The official draw occurred on Sunday, May 25, at the Raffles Hotel in Doha, with Uganda’s head coach Brian Ssenyondo in attendance.
The event was graced by 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Julian Draxler and former Qatar U-17 international Abdulaziz Al Sulaiti, who assisted in conducting the draw for what is the first-ever 48-team edition of the tournament.
Uganda’s journey begins on November 5, 2025, when they face Canada at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
The Cubs will then play Chile on November 8 before concluding their group-stage fixtures with a high-stakes clash against France on November 11.
This year’s tournament, scheduled to run from November 3 to 27, is a landmark edition.
Not only is it the first time FIFA is implementing an annual calendar for the U-17 World Cup, but it’s also the debut of the expanded 48-nation format, up from the traditional 24-team structure.
For Uganda, the qualification alone was a historic moment. The Cubs booked their ticket to Qatar after a spirited 2-1 playoff victory over The Gambia at the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
Forward James Bogere was the hero of the day, netting a brilliant first-half brace to send the East African nation into their maiden appearance at any FIFA World Cup event, across all age groups and genders.
Placed in a group with established football nations, the Uganda Cubs face a daunting but exciting challenge.
France, the 2023 runners-up, bring pedigree and depth to the group, while Canada and Chile boast strong youth development programs and regular appearances at global tournaments.
Uganda will also fly the CECAFA region’s flag at the competition, joining a strong African contingent that includes South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
Germany enter the tournament as defending champions, having lifted their maiden U-17 World Cup title in 2023 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in Indonesia.
