Four more nations have qualified to join New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in November.
They are Senegal, Morocco, Mali and Burkina Faso who have clinched their places by reaching the last four at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria.
Mali have the best record at FIFA U-17 level, having played at five previous World Cups, including the 2015 tournament in New Zealand when they were runners-up.
Burkina Faso, who upset the fancied Nigeria 2-1 in the quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations, finished third at the 2001 U-17 World Cup.
The venue of the November tournament remains undecided after FIFA stripped Peru of its hosting rights, saying the country was not ready for the tournament.
FIFA are assessing alternatives.
The decision also means Peru loses its right to attend the World Cup as the host nation.
Main photo: The New Zealand team at the OFC U-17 Championship, where they earned their place at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup by reaching the final.
The 14 nations already qualified
Ten nations have confirmed their places at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup:
- New Zealand and New Caledonia, through reaching the final of the OFC U-17 Championship in Fiji.
- Canada, United States, Mexico and Panama, who qualified through the 16-nation CONCACAF U-17 Championship tournament in Guatemala.
- Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Ecuador, through the South American U-17 Championship.
- Senegal, Morocco, Mali and Burkina Faso, through the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Where the other 10 teams will come from
The remaining 10 participants will come from:
- AFC (Asia) — four semi-finalists at the U-17 Asian Cup in late June.
- UEFA (Europe) — five qualifiers to come from the European U-17 Championship which ends in early June.
- Host nation — depends on a decision by FIFA as to which country will host the tournament.
READ MORE: Our previous stories about the New Zealand U-17 men’s team >>>>
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