This year’s World Cup marks a historic expansion of the tournament, with 24 countries set to compete—the largest number since the competition’s inception in New Zealand 17 years ago.
It will be the ninth edition of the global youth championship.
Hosts Morocco, one of Africa’s five representatives, are placed in Pot 1 alongside defending champions North Korea, Spain, Japan, the USA, and Nigeria—making its eighth appearance at the tournament.
The remaining pots are as follows:
Pot 2: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador
Pot 3: China, Cameroon, South Korea, Italy, France, Zambia
Pot 4: Paraguay, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Norway, Côte d’Ivoire, Samoa
The final tournament promises to be a landmark edition, showcasing emerging talent from across the globe.
