Part 1: The FPI overview of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025™ - FIFA Training Centre

FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025™ was a momentous tournament, being the first iteration of the now annual competition to host 48 teams, opening a whole new level of exposure to youth players across the globe to the experience of testing themselves against the best players in the world.

The new format presents a unique opportunity for FIFA’s Global Football Development Division to monitor player development across the six Confederations, and with the tournament being hosted in Qatar’s Aspire Academy complex from 2025-2029, the environment of comparison is uniquely consistent in terms of climate, match and training conditions.

FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) and Football Performance Insights Team were on site, attending and monitoring all 104 matches. In this article, we present some of the key data findings from their extensive analysis.

Goals scored analysis

A total of 326 goals were scored from 2,848 attempts at goal. The rate at which attempts at goal were converted to goals remained consistent between FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 (10.9%) and FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023™ (11.4%).

While the average number of goals per game decreased a little from 3.36 in 2023 to 3.13 in 2025, the average winning margin increased slightly from 2.52 goals per game to 2.65. The relative consistency in these numbers indicates stability in the competitiveness of the tournament despite the increase from 32 teams to 48.

Figure 1

With the increase to 48 teams and 104 games, the number of goals scored rose significantly compared to 2023, but the proportions scored from inside and outside the penalty area remained relatively consistent.

Interestingly, there was a 7% increase in the proportion of goals scored from crosses, up from 24% in 2023 to 31% in 2025. The volume of open play crosses increased from 14.5 per 30 minutes in possession to 16.7, while the percentage of total tournament attempts from crosses that resulted in attempts at goal (21% in 2025) remained consistent with the 20% reported in 2023. These insights reflect a strong improvement in teams’ efficiency at converting chances to goals.

Figure 2

In 2025, 31% of all tournament goals were scored from open play crosses compared to just 24% in 2023.

Teams’ success at scoring from crosses correlated directly with their ability and willingness to commit at least two players to being in the penalty area when the cross arrived. In the clips below, we see two examples of goals from crosses, in which both scoring teams have three players in the area, ready to either attack the cross or occupy defenders.

Clip 1: Brazil centre-forward Dell (9) scores with a header from a lofted cross.

Clip 2: Croatia attacker Krešimir Radoš (7) lost his marker at the back post before scoring from a cross.

Goals from set plays

With more throw-ins direct to the penalty area per match (+1.5) — and a greater proportion of attacking throw-ins being launched into the penalty area (+15.2%) in the top quarter of the pitch — a tournament-wide trend of their use was identified and is discussed in detail in this article.

However, regarding other set plays, goal efficiency and chance creation decreased from corner kicks, with 31.7% resulting in an attempt at goal in 2025, compared to 34.0% in 2023. From those attempts, one goal was scored in every 27 corners taken in 2025, compared to every 21 corners in 2023.

Figure 3

Goalscoring efficiency and attempts at goal from corners, free kicks and penalties all reduced in 2025.

BALL-IN-PLAY TIME AND POSSESSION PHASES

At the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025, ball-in-play time decreased significantly by 05:09 per match, falling from 55:52 in 2023 to 50:43 in 2025. Meanwhile, the time the ball was “in contest” (6:07) remained broadly consistent with 2023 levels (6:14).

Part of the reasons identified by the Technical Study Group for the decline in ball-in-play time include an increase in the volume of long throw-ins directed into the penalty area and the associated setup time; a rise in goal kicks taken by outfield players; and the potential impact of player injuries and the new Football Video Support system.

In addition, the tournament saw a slight shift towards a more transitional and direct style of play. This is evident in a decrease (1.7%) in time spent in build-up play phases, a decrease (3.0%) in time spent in final-third phases, and a slight increase (0.5%) in transitional phases. However, there was merit in both a possession-based style and in a more direct style, as finalists Portugal and Austria favoured contrasting approaches.

Figure 4

Ball-in-play time reduced by over five minutes in 2025 to an average of 50:43 per match.

Figure 5

The two finalists showcased two varying styles, with winners Portugal looking to control possession compared to runners-up Austria, who preferred a more direct approach with the ball.

Out-of-possession phases

When teams did not have the ball, some small changes were noted across the out-of-possession phases. Low and mid-block phases decreased cumulatively by 3%, with the low-block phase decreasing the most (1.6%). However, together, high press and block saw a marginal increase of 0.4%. This behaviour aligned with the TSG’s observations. Nearly all teams engaged high from goal kicks, looking to turn the ball over close to goal or force long passes, before dropping off into a mid-block structure if the opposition progressed.

There was a wide range of approaches to high pressing in the final third. Some teams executed it effectively, with Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire consistently pressing high in this area and averaging more than 9.5 turnovers in the final third per 30 minutes out of possession.

Figure 6

Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire were the most effective teams at turning high pressure in the final third into possession turnovers.

Figure 7

Teams took varying approaches to compactness when in high, mid and low-block phases.

Further in-depth tournament analysis

Our Technical Study Group and Football Performance Insights Team have identified the following themes as being standout from FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025. For more in-depth analysis, click on the links below: