The U-20 Africa Cup has concluded in Egypt, resulting in the participants of the 2025 World Cup in this age category.
Photo: uaf.uaLet us recall that the youth national team of Ukraine U-19 secured a spot at the U-20 World Cup by reaching the semifinals of Euro-2024 in Northern Ireland last year.
The 2025 U-20 World Cup 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 in the event. They will initially compete in six groups. The two best teams from each group, as well as four teams out of six that finish third, will advance to the Round of 16. The tournament will proceed according to the usual format.
After the U-20 Africa Cup, all 24 participants of the World Cup are known: Chile (as the host); Spain, France, Italy, Ukraine, and Norway from Europe; USA, Mexico, Cuba, and Panama from CONCACAF; Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay from South America; Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Australia from Asia; New Zealand and New Caledonia from Oceania; South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, and Egypt from Africa.
The draw for the 2025 U-20 World Cup will take place in the summer (the date has yet to be determined). The seeding will be based on the total points obtained by each country in the last five U-20 World Cups — 2023 (100%), 2019 (80%), 2017 (60%), 2015 (40%), 2013 (20%). The geographical principle will also be considered during the draw. According to preliminary information, Ukraine will be in the second pot.
Additionally, the current world champion among U-20 teams is Uruguay, while in 2019, the title was taken by the Ukrainian team led by Oleksandr Petrakov.
