International Football
THE U17 WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE IN NUMBERS
The FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil enters the knockout stage this Tuesday as Angola takes on Korea Republic while Nigeria will face Netherlands in the Round of 16.
So far, 36 of the projected 52 matches have been played. The road to the final matches continues.
In the meantime, FIFA.com rounds up the most fascinating stats from the first round, which was played out in Brasilia, Vitoria and Goiania.
Battle for Golden Boot
4 The number of goals Australia’s Noah Botic has scored to date, giving him the lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot at Brazil 2019. Just behind him on three are Senegal’s Pape Sarr, Mexico’s Efrain Alvarez, Italy’s Degnand Gnonto and Nigeria’s Ibrahim Said.
Average Goals per Game
3.42 The average number of goals per game in the group phase: 123 in 36 matches, putting Brazil 2019 in the all-time U-17 World Cup top five for the time being. Egypt 1997 and Finland 2003 lead the way with 3.66 goals per match each.
The Best Defence
0 The number of goals conceded to date by Japan, the only team to keep clean sheets in all of their group games. Their solid rearguard and the performances of goalkeeper Zion Suzuki are the reasons for that perfect record. The Japanese have now gone 367 minutes without conceding in the competition, a sequence that stretches back to India 2017.
The Highest Number of Assists
3The number of assists served up by Paraguay midfielder Rodrigo Lopez, more than any other player at the tournament so far.
The Youngest Scorer
15 years, 11 months and 23 days. That was how old Italy’s Degnand Gnonto was when he scored against Solomon Islands on the opening day in Group F. With that goal, the Inter Milan forward became the youngest player to find the back of the net in the group phase at Brazil 2019
The Fastest Scorer
52 – The number of seconds on the clock when Paik Sanghoon gave Korea Republic the lead against Chile in the final round of games in Group C. The goal was the fifth fastest in the history of the competition, some way slower than the nine seconds it took Brazil’s Fabinho to score against New Zealand at Korea 2007.
Over A Dozen of Penalties
14 – The number of penalties awarded in the 36 group matches. Twelve of them resulted in goals while the remaining two were saved in some style: Italy goalkeeper Marco Molla denied Mexico’s Israel Luna and USA’s Chituru Odunze did likewise to the Netherlands’ Kenneth Taylor. Both keepers dived to the left to pull off their superb stops.
A Feast of Goals
8 –Mexico’s 8-0 defeat of Solomon Islands, which secured their place in the last 16, is the third-largest win in the tournament’s history. Nigeria beat Canada by the same scoreline at Japan 1993, while Spain hold the outright record courtesy of a 13-0 win over New Zealand at Egypt 1997.
Cautions and Expulsions
115 – The number of yellow cards shown by referees—an average of 3.19 per match. Eight red cards have also been issued.
Milestone Match
700 – Paraguay’s victory over Italy on the final matchday in Group F was the 700th match in the history of the tournament, which began as a U-16 competition in 1985.
Netherlands’ Return
14 – The number of years that the Netherlands have taken to return to the last 16. The last time they did so was at Peru 2005, when they went on to finish third. In between times they were knocked out in the group phases at Nigeria 2009 and Mexico 2011.
Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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International Football
Iran Conflict Casts Uncertainty Over Super Eagles’ Four-Nation Tournament Opener
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may face fresh uncertainty ahead of their scheduled participation in a Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Amman, Jordan, following reports that Iran — their intended first opponents — is now at war after attacks by the United States and Israel.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier confirmed that the Super Eagles would compete in the mini-tournament during the FIFA Men’s International Window in March 2026. The competition is slated to run from March 27 to 31 in the Jordanian capital.
Under the original fixture schedule, Nigeria were due to open the tournament on Friday, March 27 against Iran’s senior national team at the 17,000-capacity Amman International Stadium. Hosts Jordan were set to face Costa Rica the same day at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
However, the escalating military confrontation involving Iran has cast serious doubt over the participation of the Iranian national team and the viability of the opening fixture.
While tournament organisers in Jordan have yet to issue an official statement regarding possible changes, the developing security situation is expected to force urgent consultations between the participating federations, tournament organisers and FIFA.
The competition was designed to provide competitive match exposure during a window initially reserved for the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s inclusion in the tournament had already generated debate at home, with observers questioning whether the NFF’s commitment signalled a shift in focus away from potential qualification disputes.
The new geopolitical crisis further complicates matters. International conflicts often trigger travel restrictions, airspace closures and security advisories that can directly affect national teams’ ability to assemble and travel.
Should Iran withdraw or be unable to participate, organisers may be compelled to seek a replacement team or adjust the fixture format entirely.
Nigeria are scheduled to face hosts Jordan on March 31 in their second match of the tournament, while Costa Rica and Iran were originally billed to meet the same day at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Kick-off times for the four fixtures had yet to be officially announced before the outbreak of hostilities.
For the Super Eagles, the tournament was seen as an opportunity to build cohesion and test tactical adjustments ahead of future competitive engagements. Now, attention will turn to whether the event can proceed as planned — and whether Nigeria’s opening match will require a late reshuffle.
The NFF is expected to monitor developments closely and may issue further clarification in the coming days as the regional and international situation evolves.
Meanwhile, Reuters has quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead. But the Iranians have dismissed the claim, saying that the leader is ‘firmly commanding the field’. Both Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump says action will give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers. Hits were reported in Israel and Gulf states as Iran retaliated. The attack has triggered fear and panics as as Iranians flee cities.
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