- The UEFA representatives at FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 have now been confirmed
- Eleven European nations will head to the global finals in November
- Likes of Noah Fernandez and Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez impressed in qualifying
Following the conclusion of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying tournament, 11 nations from the continent have booked their tickets to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™.
Holders Germany will be joined at the global finals by Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Republic of Ireland and Switzerland, with the event set to take place from 3 to 27 November.
Here, FIFA looks at five players who impressed in Round 2 of UEFA qualifying.
David Boly
France | Right-back
Les Bleuets were undoubtedly one of the most impressive sides during the qualifying tournament, winning all three of their matches and conceding just twice.
Right-back Boly played his part at both ends of the field, as the tough-tackling Paris Saint-Germain starlet earned rave reviews for his athleticism and reading of the game. He used both to pop up at the back post and square for Djylian N’Guessan to equalise in the 5-1 rout of Greece.
Saint-Etienne pair N’Guessan, who netted a second-round high five goals, and Paul Eymard also impressed.
Krystof Cizek
Czechia | Central midfielder
For the first time since 2011, Czechia will compete at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with midfield dynamo Cizek a big reason for their inclusion.
While Cizek is capable of playing deeper and dictating play with a wide range of passing, he was deployed further forward in Pavel Drsek’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with the added attacking onus paying dividends. He found the net in the 3-2 win over Sweden before firing in two penalties as captain against Switzerland in the all-important third match which confirmed their place as Group A5 winners.
Noah Fernandez
Belgium | Attacking midfielder
Fernandez starred throughout Belgium’s three matches, with the midfielder, who can also operate out wide, recording at least one goal contribution in each.
He tucked away a match-winning penalty against the Republic of Ireland, before assisting Nathan De Cat’s winner against Iceland. The pair were kept on the bench against Poland but were summoned just after the hour mark with Belgium 2-0 down. Fernandez instantly marched over to take a free-kick which De Cat flicked in, before the uber-talented teen netted the equaliser with a nicely-taken finish.
Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez
England | Striker
Gomes Rodriguez has already been around the houses in his young career. The Lyon man has represented England, Portugal and Venezuela at a variety of youth levels, but now looks to have found his feet in the Three Lions set-up.
He showed incredible strength and footwork to net the opener against Israel before notching another in the second half. Against Slovenia, with the score 2-2, the electric forward received the ball to the left of the box, dribbled past two defenders and fired in an 84th-minute winner which confirmed England’s place at the finals.
Jaden Umeh
Republic of Ireland | Winger
Quick, strong and a talented dribbler, Republic of Ireland star Umeh earned a move to Benfica from Cork City last August and showed all of Europe why he is such a highly thought of talent.
After impressing in their narrow defeat to Belgium, the winger hit a game-deciding brace against Poland to give Colin O’Brien’s side hopes of qualification. He then scored two further goals in a 5-0 hammering of Iceland, which booked the nation a first-ever shot at the finals.
RESULT | #IRLU17 | 🇵🇱 0-2 🇮🇪
A look at Jaden Umeh’s two goals that led Ireland to a 2-0 win over Elite Phase hosts Poland today 👏
A great performance from Colin O’Brien’s young team ☘️#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/N3EXHfSZXh— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 22, 2025
Source: FIFA
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