France Triumphs Over Chile as Czechia, Ireland Shine in Openers

France commenced their FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 journey with a decisive 2-0 victory against Chile, while Czechia and Ireland also enjoyed impressive wins in their respective matches. The tournament, hosted at the Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar, showcased thrilling performances on the opening day.

Thrilling Openers for European Teams

In their Group K match, France faced a challenging first half against Chile, but the game shifted in their favor after halftime. Christ Batola opened the scoring with a well-placed free-kick from 10 yards outside the box in the 55th minute. Just eight minutes later, Remi Himbert extended the lead with a header from another set-piece, ensuring France’s solid start in the tournament.

Midfielder Abdoulaye Camara expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “The coach warned us that it wasn’t going to be an easy game… We won this game, and we’re going to do everything we can to win the next one.”

In another thrilling Group K encounter, Canada secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Uganda. A stoppage-time penalty converted by Marius Aiyenero sealed the win after James Bogere had given Uganda an early lead in the 25th minute. Canada equalized through Elijah Roche in the dying minutes of regular time.

Roche remarked, “I’m very excited… Canada has grown a lot over the years.”

Czechia and Ireland Dominate Their Matches

Czechia delivered a stunning performance against Tajikistan, with Vit Skrkon scoring a rapid hat-trick in the first half. He netted his first goal in the 12th minute, followed by two more within just a few minutes, pushing the score to 4-0 before halftime. Despite a consolation goal from Tajikistan’s Muhammad Nazriev in the 65th minute, Czechia added two more goals late in the match, finishing with a commanding 6-1 win.

In another impressive display, Ireland cruised to victory over Panama in Group J, scoring four goals while conceding just one. Jaden Umeh opened the scoring in the 17th minute, and Kian McMahon-Brown doubled the lead shortly after. A powerful header from Michael Noonan and a goal from Max Kovalevskis secured the win, despite Moises Richards scoring a late consolation for Panama.

Umeh described the atmosphere, saying, “It was electric… It’s a brilliant feeling.”

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan edged out Paraguay with a narrow 2-1 victory, thanks to a brace from Azizbek Abdumuminov in the first half. Although Paraguay converted a late penalty through Alan Ledesma, Uzbekistan held firm to secure the win.

Mali and Austria Claim Wins in Group L

Mali showcased their strength with a 3-0 victory over New Zealand in Group L. Seydou Dembele opened the scoring early on, and Zoumana Ballo added a second goal after the break. Raymond Bomba capped off the performance with a third goal in the 78th minute.

Mali’s coach Adama Diallo emphasized the importance of the win, stating, “The three points were the most important thing to take away.”

In the same group, Austria narrowly defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in a match marked by intense drama, including three red cards. Johannes Moser scored the only goal from a penalty in the 55th minute, ensuring Austria’s victory despite the challenging circumstances.

The opening day of the FIFA U-17 World Cup has set an exciting tone for the tournament, with teams eager to build on their initial successes as they strive for glory in Qatar.