Uganda Cubs await FIFA U17 World Cup draw in Qatar

Uganda Cubs are on the brink of a historic moment as they prepare to discover their group opponents for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup. 

The draw is set to take place tomorrow, Sunday, May 25, at the Raffles Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

This marks Uganda’s very first appearance at any FIFA World Cup tournament, which is a monumental achievement. 

The young squad made headlines last month by defeating The Gambia 2-1 in a playoff match during the U17 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. 

Forward James Bogere was the star of the show, netting two goals in the first half to secure Uganda’s spot on the global stage.

Coach Brian Ssenyondo and team manager Bashir Mutyaba,  are already in Qatar, gearing up for important pre-tournament activities, including a technical workshop scheduled for Saturday, May 24, just ahead of the official draw.

The tournament will take place from November 3 to 27 and will feature an unprecedented 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four. 

Uganda finds itself in Pot 4, alongside notable teams like Portugal, Egypt, and the Republic of Ireland. 

The host nation, Qatar, is in Pot 1 and will automatically occupy the top position in Group A.

During the draw, teams will be selected from four different pots, ensuring that no group contains more than one team from the same continent. 

Defending champions Germany are also in Pot 1, accompanied by football giants like Brazil, France, and the USA.

The Cubs are following in the footsteps of the Uganda U20 team, which qualified for the 2019 U20 World Cup but was unable to participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Pot 1: Qatar (hosts), Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Paraguay, Senegal, USA

Pot 2: Belgium, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Honduras, Italy, Korea Republic, Morocco, New Zealand, Uzbekistan, Venezuela

Pot 3: Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Indonesia, Korea DPR, New Caledonia, Panama, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia

Pot 4: Bolivia, Czechia, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, UAE, Uganda, Zambia