Tribune News Network
Doha
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 continued on Thursday with three teams securing their passage to the knockout stages — Argentina, Italy and Portugal.
The performances of the day went to Belgium, who put seven past Fiji, and New Caledonia who held Japan to a creditable draw.
Hosts Qatar kept their qualification hopes alive with a draw against South Africa, as Croatia and Senegal secured impressive victories.
Group A
Bolivia 0-4 Italy
Italy goals: Lontani (34), Inacio (37), Elimoghale (54), Pandolfi (90+8)
Player of the Match: Samuele Inacio (Italy)
Italy swept aside Bolivia to make it back-to-back Group A victories and progress to the knockout stages. Simone Lontani’s smart finish put them in front, before Samuele Inacio’s unstoppable strike doubled their advantage. Substitute Destiny Elimoghale burst clear to score the Italians’ third. Inacio and Bolivia’s Jesus Maraude then failed to convert penalties, before Fabio Pandolfi slotted a late fourth.
Group B
Portugal 6-0 Morocco
Portugal goals: Aragao (20), Cabral (22), Mide (29 & 44 pen), Neto (46 & 60)
Player of the Match: Mateus Mide (Portugal)
Portugal stayed perfect and booked their spot in the knockouts with a routine win. Joao Aragao got the ball rolling with a low drive, before Anisio Cabral rifled in a second. Mateus Mide helped himself to a brace, including a penalty, before the interval. Jose Neto quickly added another after the break, and duly headed in for his second on the hour to complete the scoring.
Japan 0-0 New Caledonia
Player of the Match: Minato Yoshida (Japan)
Nicolas Kutran’s astounding reflexes earned the Pacific Islanders an unforeseen point. With Jelani Ren Mcghee and Minato Yoshida sparkling, Nozomi Hiroyama’s Young Samurai Blue had 18 shots in the first half, but the New Caledonia goalkeeper made excellent saves with both legs. After the break, Kutran exasperated McGhee with his fingertips, while Yoshida’s overhead kick skimmed the crossbar as Japan ran out of time.
Group C
UAE 0-3 Croatia
Croatia goals: Kusanovic (30), Sivalec (36), Rados (89)
Player of the Match: Leon Jakirovic (Croatia)
Croatia dominated from start to finish as they cruised past United Arab Emirates. A high line of pressure resulted in the first goal, with Gabrijel Sivalec blocking a pass and the ball deflecting into the path of Tino Kusanovic, who swept home for the opener. Sivalec then doubled the advantage by cutting off an attempted clearance and curling a right-footed shot into net.
UAE played with more purpose in the second stanza, but the night belonged to Croatia, and a header from Kresimir Rados in the final minutes served as the exclamation point.
Senegal 1-0 Costa Rica
Senegal goal: Camara (8)
Player of the Match: Alwaly Camara (Senegal)
Senegal continued their unbeaten start thanks to Alwaly Camara’s early strike. In the eighth minute, Etienne Mendy picked up the ball on the left wing and squared it neatly to Camara who powered home his effort. Senegal almost made it two in stoppage time when they struck the woodwork. Costa Rica, for their part, struggled to make any impact to leave their qualification hopes in the balance.
Group D
Argentina 1-0 Tunisia
Argentina goal: Jainikoski (67)
Player of the Match: Jeronimo Gomez Mattar (Argentina)
For the second game in a row, Facundo Jainikoski emerged from the bench to inspire Argentina to victory. The South Americans have now secured their passage to the knockout stages.
After an even opening period, Diego Placente turned to his No18 to change the game. Just as he did against Belgium, he scored within ten minutes of entering the fray. Bearing down on the Tunisia goal, the Argentinos Juniors forward let fly and found the bottom corner. He almost doubled his money soon after, only to see a rasping drive cannon off the crossbar.
Fiji 0-7 Belgium
Belgium goals: Fernandez (5), Capilla Rivera (9), Mitongo (22, 34, 77 & 86), Alvarez (29)
Player of the Match: Rene Mitongo (Belgium)
Rene Mitongo scored a fantastic four as Belgium got their campaign up and running with a comprehensive victory over Fiji, who are now eliminated. The Europeans took control of the game from the outset, scoring twice in the opening nine minutes through a Noah Fernandez free-kick and Pablo Capilla Rivera strike.
Fernandez then turned provider as he set up Mitongo, who tapped the ball into the empty net. Loic Alvarez made it four thanks to a brilliant individual effort before Mitingo scored his second just before the break. Both sides were then reduced to ten men with Belgium’s August de Wannemacker and Teimana Goundar given their marching orders. Mitongo scored two late goals to seal the rout.
