JFF to Seek Corporate Support as U17 World Cups Switch to Annual Events

The FIFA Under-17 World Cup will be held annually instead of biennially, with the next five editions from 2025 to take place in Qatar, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

Like the senior men’s World Cup, the Under-17 tournament will be expanded to 48 teams.

The women’s Under-17 World Cup will also be played annually from 2025, with Morocco hosting an expanded 24-team event until 2029.

The 2022 edition had 16 teams.

president of the Jamaica Football Federation, JFF, Michael Ricketts, says the Under-17 World Cups have been biennial and FIFA wants annual tournaments to both ensure no age group of players misses out and accelerate development of national teams worldwide.

Ricketts says for Jamaica to be successful the JFF will need strong support from the government and corporate Jamaica.

Michael Ricketts.