The Portugal U-17 national team has officially made history by claiming their first-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup title at the 2025 tournament held in Qatar.
The final showdown took place at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Thursday night, November 27, 2025. Portugal’s young stars, known as the Selecao, achieved a long-awaited dream by defeating Austria 1-0 in a closely contested match.
Anisio Cabral’s Decisive Strike
The match-winning goal came in the 32nd minute, scored by Anisio Cabral. According to FIFA reports, Cabral capitalized on a scramble in front of the Austrian goal to secure the historic victory, ensuring Portugal lifted the trophy for the first time in the tournament’s history. The win marked a milestone for the nation’s youth football program, which had been striving for international success for decades.
A Long-Awaited Triumph
This triumph is especially significant for Portugal. Since their debut in the U-17 World Cup, their best result had been third place in the 1989 edition in Scotland. More than three decades passed before a Portuguese youth generation finally reached the pinnacle of this prestigious competition.
Austria, meanwhile, also made history by reaching the final. Despite finishing as runners-up, this was the best performance in the nation’s U-17 World Cup history, surpassing previous campaigns where they had not advanced past the group stage.
Third Place Battle: Italy vs. Brazil
The third-place match featured two football powerhouses in youth football, Italy and Brazil. The encounter was tightly contested over 90 minutes, ending 0-0, and Italy ultimately emerged victorious after a dramatic penalty shootout, winning 4-2. This result highlighted the depth of talent across European and South American youth teams.
Nigeria Remains the Undefeated King of U-17 Football
Although Portugal captured the spotlight in 2025, the most successful team in U-17 World Cup history remains Nigeria. The West African nation has an impressive record, winning five titles (1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, 2015) and finishing as runners-up three times (1987, 2001, 2009). Nigeria’s last title came in 2015 in Chile, where they defeated Mali 2-0 in a final between two African giants.
Brazil follows closely behind, consistently producing world-class talent through their U-17 squad. The Selecao have secured four titles (1997, 1999, 2003, 2019) and have been runners-up twice (1995, 2005). Their most recent triumph came on home soil in 2019, when they overcame Mexico 2-1 in the final.
Complete List of FIFA U-17 World Cup Champions
Here is a full list of all winners since the tournament’s inception:
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1985: Nigeria
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1987: Soviet Union
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1989: Saudi Arabia
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1991: Ghana
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1993: Nigeria
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1995: Ghana
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1997: Brazil
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1999: Brazil
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2001: France
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2003: Brazil
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2005: Mexico
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2007: Nigeria
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2009: Switzerland
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2011: Mexico
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2013: Nigeria
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2015: Nigeria
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2017: England
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2019: Brazil
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2023: Germany
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2025: Portugal
With this historic victory, Portugal U-17 not only adds their name to the list of world champions but also sets a new benchmark for youth football in the nation, signaling a bright future for the next generation of Portuguese football stars.
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