Tonight in Doha, Uganda’s U17 national football team, the Uganda Cubs, will walk onto Aspire Zone Pitch 9 to face Canada at 6:45 p.m. EAT, marking the country’s first-ever appearance at a FIFA World Cup tournament.
For the first time in Uganda’s football history, the national flag will fly at a global FIFA event.
The Cubs’ presence in Qatar is not only a sporting achievement but a statement of progress, resilience, and belief that the dream once thought distant is now alive.
Their qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 came through grit. After finishing third in their group at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Uganda earned a decisive playoff against The Gambia.
Down by a goal, the young side fought back to win 2-1, with forward James Bogere scoring twice to seal a historic victory that secured Uganda’s first-ever ticket to a FIFA World Cup at any level.
Head coach Brian Ssenyondo has guided the team through months of intense preparation.
The Cubs held a residential camp at the FUFA Stadium in Kadiba before traveling to Dubai for a high-level training tour, where they played friendlies against Venezuela, Panama, and Paraguay in the Dubai Youth Challenge Cup.
While the results were modest, the lessons were immense. The Cubs drew 1-1 with Venezuela, then lost narrowly to Panama (1-2) and Paraguay (2-3).
Ssenyondo believes those games were vital in shaping his squad’s tactical balance and mental readiness.
“We are more than ready for action,” Ssenyondo said. “The Dubai tournament helped us refine our formations, improve our understanding, and build the mentality we need for this stage.”
Uganda’s squad, captained by midfielder Richard Okello, includes standouts such as Bogere, Abubakali Walusimbi, Brain Jjara, Isima Magala, and goalkeeper Adrian Mukwanga.
Defender Hamza Sengooba says the team’s focus is on mentality, discipline, and teamwork. “The right mindset brings the right performance,” he said. “We are prepared to push for a positive result.”
Their Group K challenge is formidable. Alongside Canada, Uganda will face Chile and France.
Canada arrives with a technically strong squad featuring goalkeeper Milo Beimers, defender Sergei Kozlovskiy, and forward Shola Jimoh.
FUFA President Moses Magogo, who is in Qatar with the team, urged the players to approach the occasion with pride. “Represent the nation with courage and belief,” he told them. “Go out and write your story.”
For these young Cubs and the nation at large, tonight is a milestone built on years of quiet work in academies and youth programs, a moment that ties the generation to the country’s long pursuit of football recognition.
Whatever happens tonight, the Cubs have already changed Ugandan football history. They now play not for themselves alone, but for every dreamer who believed Uganda’s day would come.
