The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed that regional select trials for the Uganda U17 national team will be held at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru from August 18 to 24, as preparations intensify for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar.
The week-long scouting exercise, jointly organised by the FUFA Football Development Department and the National Teams Office, will bring together players from across the country to compete in a round-robin format. The initiative aims to identify and nurture young talents who will join the Cubs’ provisional squad for the global tournament.
To ensure balanced competition, the eight FUFA regions have been merged into four combined select teams: Kampala & Buganda, Eastern & North East, Western & Kitara, and West Nile & Northern. Each merged side will field 22 players, offering scouts and the U17 technical staff a broader pool of talent to assess.
FUFA Football Development Director Bashir Mutyaba explained that merging regions will guarantee a higher level of competition while fostering unity among players. He added that the trials will not only assess individual performances but also focus on teamwork, discipline and adaptability.
“The objective is to give every talented young player an equal platform to shine, regardless of where they come from,” Mutyaba said.
The selected players will form the nucleus of the Uganda Cubs squad that will embark on rigorous preparations for the World Cup, where Uganda has been drawn in Group K alongside France, Chile and Canada.
The initiative is part of FUFA’s long-term strategy to strengthen player development pathways and ensure Uganda remains competitive at the highest level of youth football.
