After dominating Group A, finishing with a perfect record by beating hosts Qatar (1-0), Bolivia (4-0), and South Africa (3-1) in order, and eliminating the Czech Republic in the round of 16 (2-0), Uzbekistan, the Asian champions, in the round of 16 (3-2), and Burkina Faso in the quarterfinals (1-0), Massimiliano Favo’s Italy Under-18 team has progressed to the Under-17 World Cup semifinal, the first in Italy’s history in seven appearances in the tournament (1991, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2019, and 2025). Tomorrow (16:30 local time / 14:30 CET), on Field 5 of Doha’s Aspire Zone, the Azzurrini will take on Austria, who defeated Japan 1-0 on Field 3 in the previous round.

 

The Coach highlighted “We have a lot of respect for Austria. They are a solid, efficient, clinical, and organised team. They know what to do and do it well. Like us, they have won all their matches so far without ever needing penalties. They are a tough team to face because they adapt well to their opponents. It will be a beautiful, tactical, and demanding match, especially because this has become a marathon. We will be playing our seventh consecutive game. At this stage, you do not make calculations, and we never have. We stick to our ideas and principles of play. It will not be easy for us, but it will not be easy for them either.”

 

Italy, who will be without suspended defender David Marini, trained yesterday afternoon at the Al Thumama sports centre and will have a pre-match session today ahead of the clash with Austria.

 

Opponent: Hermann Stadler’s Austria qualified for the tournament by finishing second in Group A of the European second-round qualifiers, held in Spain from 19 to 25 March, with 5 points. The Austrians finished behind Germany, who led with 7 points, drawing 2-2 with the Germans (19 March) and 3-3 with hosts Spain (25 March), while beating Norway 2-1 (22 March).

 

Stadler’s side, who will be without the suspended defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe, secured their spot in the Under-17 World Cup semifinals after beating Japan 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a goal in the 49th minute from Liefering midfielder Johannes Moser. Before that, Austria eliminated Tunisia 2-0 in the round of 16 (15 November) and England 4-0 in the round of 16 (18 November). Earlier, they dominated Group L, finishing first with a perfect 9 points, defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their opener (5 November), Mali 3-0 (8 November), and New Zealand 4-1 (11 November).

 

This is Austria’s third time in the Under-17 World Cup, after 1997 in Egypt and 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, both ending in the group stage.In this age category, Italy and Austria have faced each other 33 times: with 16 Italian wins, 6 draws, and 11 Austrian victories. The first meeting was on 4 April 1958, during the Eight Nations Tournament, when the Azzurrini won 2-0 thanks to goals from Carlo Volpi (20’) and Roberto Oltramari (30’). The most recent encounters were a double friendly this season, where Massimiliano Favo’s team lost 2-1 and 1-0 respectively on 9 and 12 October.

 

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: 1. Francesco Cereser (Torino), 12. Alessandro Longoni (Milan), 21. Sebastiano Nava (Juventus);
Defenders: 16. Benit Borasio (Juventus), 5. Leonardo Noah Bovio (Inter), 15. Cristiano De Paoli (Como), 2. Dauda Amihere Iddrisa (West Bromwich Albion), 3. Jean-Tryfose Mambuku (Stade de Reims), 13. David Marini (Cesena), 6. Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);
Midfielders: 8. Alessio Baralla (Empoli), 7. Andrea Luongo (Torino), 17. Valerio Maccaroni (Roma), 14. Fabio Pandolfi (Milan), 4. Vincenzo Prisco (Napoli), 18. Federico Steffanoni (Atalanta);
Forwards: 19. Antonio Arena (Roma), 9. Thomas Campaniello (Empoli), 11. Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (Juventus), 10. Samuele Inácio (Borussia Dortmund), 20. Simone Lontani (Milan).

Staff –Head Coach: Massimiliano Favo; Head of Delegation: Filippo Corti; Deputy Coordinator of the Youth National Teams: Daniele Zoratto; Assistant Coach: Davide Cei; Goalkeeping Coach: Davide Quironi; Athletic Trainer: Adalberto Zamuner; Match Analyst: Andrea Loiacono; Doctors: Sofia Calaciura Clarich and Alessio Rossato; Physiotherapists: Giorgio Giannini and Enrico Matera; Nutritionist: Claudio Pecorella; School Tutor: Stefano Presciutti; Press Office: Alessandro Paoli; Administration Office: Antonio Martuscelli; Club Italia: Riccardo Poggetti; Team Secretary: Massimo Petracchini.

 

FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025

Group Stage (3–11 November)

Group A: Qatar, ITALY, South Africa, Bolivia
Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal
Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates
Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji
Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt
Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Ivory Coast, Switzerland
Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El Salvador
Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia
Group I: United States, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech Republic
Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ireland
Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda
Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia

 

Matchday 1 (3–5 November)

 

Monday 3 November

South Africa–Bolivia 3–1
Costa Rica–United Arab Emirates 1–1
Senegal–Croatia 0–0
Japan–Morocco 2–0
Argentina–Belgium 3–2
New Caledonia–Portugal 1–6
Qatar–ITALY 0–1
Tunisia–Fiji 6–0

Tuesday 4 November

Ivory Coast–Switzerland 1–4
Brazil–Honduras 7–0
Mexico–South Korea 1–2
Haiti–Egypt 1–4
Germany–Colombia 1–1
England–Venezuela 0–3
North Korea–El Salvador 5–0
Indonesia–Zambia 1–3

Wednesday 5 November

Tajikistan–Czech Republic 1–6
Panama–Ireland 1–4
Paraguay–Uzbekistan 1–2
Austria–Saudi Arabia 1–0
Mali–New Zealand 3–0
United States–Burkina Faso 1–0
France–Chile 2–0
Canada–Uganda 2–1

 

Matchday 2 (6–8 November)

Thursday 6 November

Bolivia–ITALY 0–4
Portugal–Morocco 6–0
Japan–New Caledonia 0–0
Argentina–Tunisia 1–0
Fiji–Belgium 0–7
United Arab Emirates–Croatia 0–3
Qatar–South Africa 1–1
Senegal–Costa Rica 1–0

Friday 7 November

England–Haiti 8–1
El Salvador–Colombia 0–0
Germany–North Korea 1–1
Egypt–Venezuela 1–1
Mexico–Ivory Coast 1–0
Switzerland–South Korea 0–0
Brazil–Indonesia 4–0
Zambia–Honduras 5–2

Saturday 8 November

Czech Republic–Burkina Faso 1–2
Uganda–Chile 1–1
Mali–Austria 0–3
France–Canada 0–0
United States–Tajikistan 2–1
Paraguay–Panama 2–1
Ireland–Uzbekistan 2–1
Saudi Arabia–New Zealand 3–2

 

Matchday 3 (9–11 November)

Sunday 9 November

Fiji–Argentina 0–7
Belgium–Tunisia 2–0
Portugal–Japan 1–2
Morocco–New Caledonia 16–0
United Arab Emirates–Senegal 0–5
Croatia–Costa Rica 3–1
Bolivia–Qatar 0–0
ITALY–South Africa 3–1

Monday 10 November

Switzerland–Mexico 3–1
South Korea–Ivory Coast 3–1
El Salvador–Germany 0–7
Colombia–North Korea 2–0
Zambia–Brazil 1–1
Honduras–Indonesia 1–2
Egypt–England 0–3
Venezuela–Haiti 4–2

Tuesday 11 November

Uganda–France 1–0
Chile–Canada 2–1
Ireland–Paraguay 0–0
Uzbekistan–Panama 6–1
Czech Republic–United States 0–1
Burkina Faso–Tajikistan 2–0
Saudi Arabia–Mali 0–2
New Zealand–Austria 1–4

 

Group A standings: ITALY 9, South Africa 4, Qatar 2, Bolivia 1.
Group B standings: Japan 7, Portugal 6, Morocco 3, New Caledonia 1.
Group C standings: Senegal 7 (+6), Croatia 7 (+5), Costa Rica 1 (–3), United Arab Emirates 1 (–8).
Group D standings: Argentina 9, Belgium 6, Tunisia 3, Fiji 0.
Group E standings: Venezuela 7, England 6, Egypt 4, Haiti 0.
Group F standings: Switzerland 7 (+5), South Korea 7 (+3), Mexico 3, Ivory Coast 0.
Group G standings: Germany 5 (+7), Colombia 5 (+2), North Korea 4, El Salvador 1.
Group H standings: Brazil 7 (+11), Zambia 7 (+5), Indonesia 3, Honduras 0.
Group I standings: United States 9, Burkina Faso 6, Czech Republic 3, Tajikistan 0.
Group J standings: Ireland 7, Uzbekistan 6, Paraguay 4, Panama 0.
Group K standings: France 4 (+1), Canada 4 (0), Uganda 4 (0), Chile 4 (–1).
Group L standings: Austria 9, Mali 6, Saudi Arabia 3, New Zealand 0.