The South American Championship (U-20) has concluded in Venezuela, with the participants for the 2025 World Cup in this age group determined.
Photo: fifa.comRecall that last year the Ukrainian U-19 youth team earned a spot in the U-20 World Cup by reaching the semifinals of Euro-2024 in Northern Ireland.
The U-20 World Cup 2025 will take place from September 27 to October 19 in five cities in Chile: Valparaíso, Santiago, Viña del Mar, Rancagua, and Talca. A total of 24 teams from six confederations will participate. They will first compete in six groups. The two best teams from each group, as well as four out of six teams that finish in third place, will advance to the Round of 16. The tournament will then proceed in the usual format.
Europe will be represented by five teams, determined by the outcomes of Euro-2024: Spain, France, Italy, Ukraine, and Norway.
Following qualifiers in CONMEBOL, another 11 participants for the World Cup have become known—potential opponents of Ukraine: Chile (as the host), the USA, Mexico, Cuba, and Panama from CONCACAF; Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay from South America; New Zealand and New Caledonia from Oceania. The rest will be determined later after the championships in the corresponding age categories in Asia and Africa (four spots each).
The draw for the U-20 World Cup 2025 will be held in the summer (the date has yet to be determined). The seeding will be based on the total points earned by each country in the last five U-20 World Cups—2023 (100%), 2019 (80%), 2017 (60%), 2015 (40%), 2013 (20%). The draw will also take into account the geographical principle.
In addition, the current reigning world champion among U-20 teams is Uruguay.
