DOHA, Qatar – The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 continued on Wednesday with three Concacaf nations opening their campaigns.
Canada, Panama and the USA were among the last nations to kick off their participation in the Group Stage of the 2025 edition. The United States and Canada both collected their firsts three points.
Panama 1, Republic of Ireland 4
Panama fell 4-1 to Ireland in Group J at Aspire Zone - Pitch 3 in Doha, Qatar.
Ireland took the lead through goals from Jaden Umeh (17'), Kian McMahon-Brown (35'), Michael Noonan (58'), Max Kovalevskis (61').
Moises Richards took one back for Panama in the 89’, dribbling into the box to deliver a left-footed finish into the left netting.
Los Canaleros will resume their campaign against Paraguay on Saturday.
Post-Match Stats
● This was Panama’s tenth match across the Concacaf U-17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in which they had more possession than their opponent, recording 62% against Ireland. They have only lost three of those matches, including today’s defeat (5W 2D 3L).
● Moisés Caicedo scored Panama’s only goal in the match against Ireland. No Panamian player has taken more shots (5) in a FUFA U-17 World Cup while also scoring at least once since 2013.
● Only two players have registered more chances created in a single FIFA U-17 World Cup match for Panama across their previous two appearances in the tournament (2013 and 2023) than Estevis López today (3): Héctor Ríos vs. Morocco (5) and Oldemar Castillo vs. Ecuador (4), both in 2023.
USA 1, Burkina Faso 0
USA won 1-nil against Burkina Faso in Group I at Aspire Zone - Pitch 4 in Doha, Qatar.
Cavan Sullivan scored the lone goal of the encounter in the 79’ with a left-footed finish inside the six-yard box, sealing the full three points the United States.
The Stars and Stripes campaign will continue against Tajikistan on Saturday.
Post-Match Stats
● The United States recorded back-to-back wins against African teams at the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time, with both victories coming against Burkina Faso: 2-1 in the group stage of 2023 and 1-0 today.
● This is the fourth win for the United States in a FIFA U-17 World Cup debut in their last six appearances at the tournament (2011, 2015, 2017, 2023 and 2025). In the three previous editions in which they managed to win their first match, they advanced to the knockout stages.
● Mathis Albert (27) is the second U.S player to combine more interventions between shots (4), dribble attempts (8), duels won (8) and possessions won (7) in a FIFA U-17 World Cup match since at least Chile 2015 (27 – tied with Andrew Carleton).
● Cavan Sullivan scored the first goal for the United States at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup and only the third goal by a substitute for the USMNT since 2013, following Ayo Akinola vs. Ghana in 2017 and David Vazquez vs. Germany in 2023.
● Only Andrew Carleton (10) has registered more touches in the opponent’s box than Nimfasha Berchimas (6) since 2017. The forward also had two shots and led the team in successful dribbles (4).
Canada 2, Uganda 1
Canada earned a 2-1 victory over Uganda in Group K at Aspire Zone - Pitch 9 in Doha, Qatar.
James Bogere opened the scoring in the 25' as the African side took the lead.
Elijah Roche equalized the encounter in the 88’, striking a header to connect on a corner kick service from Aghilas Sadek.
Marius Aiyenero completed the comeback by converting from the penalty spot in the 90'+8'.
The Reds will meet France on Saturday with the top of the group at stake.
Post-Match Stats
● Canada came from behind to claim their first-ever victory at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, defeating Uganda after 24 matches played across eight tournament appearances (4D 20L).
● This was only the third time that Canada scored two goals in a FIFA U-17 World Cup match, following 2-2 draws against England in 2011 and Austria in 2013. On each of those occasions, they avoided defeat.
● Canada dominated possession against Uganda (65% to 35%), while the African side had more total shots (13 to 9) but fewer on target (5 to 7), where the Canucks made the difference. They also delivered a third more crosses than their opponents (18 to 12), with one resulting in a goal.
● Elijah Roche and Marius Aiyenero scored Canada’s first two goals of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, surpassing their total from Indonesia 2023 (1) and matching their tally from Brazil 2019 (2).
● Both of Canada’s comeback goals against Uganda came from set pieces — one from a corner and another from the penalty spot. In total, 62.5% of their goals since 2013 have come this way (5 out of 8).
