MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf U-17 Men’s Qualifiers delivered top moments during its latest edition as Concacaf now has all eight nations qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The 2025 U-17 Men’s Qualifiers set new records. The tournament featured a record-breaking 60 matches and 308 total goals.
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Here is a look at the best moments from the top performances of the 2025 tournament:
El Salvador Qualifies for its First-Ever FIFA U-17 World Cup
El Salvador made history as the 11th Concacaf nation to secure a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The qualification marked a significant milestone for the country’s football development, allowing it to participate for the first time at a FIFA U-17 World Cup.
La Selecta qualified by winning Group H with nine points. The battle for first place came down to the last matchday in the group, where El Salvador defeated Jamaica 2-1 to win the group outright.
Introduction of New Tournament Format
The 2025 qualifiers featured a revamped single-round format, with 35 teams divided into eight groups, increasing pressure on every match. With no second chances, every group-stage match became do-or-die. Teams could not afford to slip up, making the tournament highly competitive from the first match.
The new format delivered thrilling finishes as all eight groups came down to the final matchdays to decide their respective winners. Group C was the only one to be decided on goal difference as first and second place Mexico and Nicaragua played to a draw.
Belize’s 7-0 debut win over Dominica
Belize debuted in the final round with a 7-nil victory against Dominica in Group C. The win set a new record for the biggest debut win in U-17 qualifiers history. The three-point start gave Belize a start on the right foot in the race for first place.
Mexico Reaches 75th win, 300 Goals in U-17 Qualifiers
Luis Gamboa’s penalty against Belize marked Mexico’s 300th goal in U-17 qualifiers, making them the only team to reach this milestone in the competition’s history. The feat came in the 2025 edition’s fourth matchday on February 11, where Mexico won 3-nil against its southern neighbors.
The Mexican side also achieved its 75th victory during the 2025 edition, making it the first team in history to reach this total.
Haiti ends six-year absence from FIFA U-17 World Cup
Haiti ended a six-year absence from the global stage with its qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Les Grenadiers won Group E with a 2-nil victory against hosts Guatemala on the final matchday. The Caribbean nation finished its campaign with a 3-0-0 record, 10 goals in favor, and no goals conceded.
