Doha: The Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 announced a comprehensive program to support talent scouts in identifying future stars at the global youth tournament, which Qatar is hosting. This is the first such program in the history of football tournaments.
According to Qatar News Agency, the committee confirmed that the program will provide integrated services for football talent scouts, including travel, accommodation, and match tickets, enabling them to stay in one central location, just steps away from the tournament stadiums, and be at the heart of the action.
Executive Director of Sports at the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Abdullah Al Saai said: "This level of service for talent scouts is unprecedented in the history of any tournament. The LOC recognizes the pivotal role of scouts in discovering emerging talent on the pitch and contributing to building their future. Therefore, we were keen to provide them with a tailor-made experience that allows them to focus on players' performances in matches and provides the best conditions for discovering promising talents, while we take care of all the logistical aspects of their visit."
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is hosting more than 130 scouts from some of the world's most prestigious clubs, and the LOC has provided them with specialized services since their arrival. The tournament's 104 matches are being held in a single area encompassing eight pitches located in the Aspire Zone competition complex, with up to eight matches per day.
The unique format of the tournament has enabled scouts to attend more than one match per day and closely observe rising talents in one location. The talent scouting experience has also been enhanced by the scouts staying at a hotel located within the tournament venue.
"We are delighted to welcome scouts from around the world, reflecting the global diversity we celebrate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the scouts and fully understanding their needs to enrich their experience as Qatar prepares to host the next four editions of the global youth tournament," Al Saai added.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, making it the largest edition of the youth tournament in history. Head of the Scouting Academy at Chicago Fire FC in the MLS, Cole Bushu explained that the tournament's unique format and scale of participation have given scouts the opportunity to witness a wide range of talent in one region.
He continued: "The tournament provides an important pathway for players to join the national team, and there is no doubt that having them in one place allows us to easily spot and monitor promising talents, which helps us to perform our tasks perfectly. We can move from one stadium to another and monitor players in many matches, without having to travel long distances. The stadiums also feature great viewing angles, which helps us to monitor the players closely. We are having a great experience during the tournament being hosted in Qatar."