PORTUGAL CROWNED U-17 WORLD CHAMPION

"I think it will be difficult for this achievement to be matched," said coach Bino Maçães, after leading the team to European and world titles in the same year

Players of Portugal celebrate with the trophy after the winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 final between Portugal and Austria in Doha, Qatar, 27 November 2025. EPA/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL

Portugal’s national male U-17 football team has been crowned the new world champion after beating Austria in a tense final in Doha, Qatar on Thursday afternoon (November 27).

A lone goal by Anísio Cabral, who scored seven goals in the U-17 World Cup, was enough to secure Portugal’s first world champion title in the U-17 age group, just a few months after the same team won the European title.

Coach Bino Maçães was delighted by his team’s performance.

“It is fantastic. It was a great job by the boys. We knew the final would be very difficult after a very exhausting tournament. But they were fantastic. I think it will be difficult for this achievement to be matched,” he told Canal 11 after the match.

“We completely deserved to win this final. For everything they have done, I hope these players will also have a fantastic future, because that is what matters,” he added.

The achievement was also celebrated by Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, who highlighted the “talent, ambition, effort, drive and success” of the national U-17 team in a post on his X account.

“Congratulations Portugal, world U-17 champions! These brave Portuguese young men showed how the future of Portugal is posed to be great, also in football,” he wrote.

Portugal booked its place in the final by knocking out Brazil on penalties (6–5) after a tense 0–0 draw in the semis. Before that, they swept past Switzerland (2–0) in the quarters, Mexico (5–0) in the round of 16, and Belgium (2–1) in the last 32. Portugal finished second in Group B, behind Japan, but ahead of Morocco and New Caledonia, both beaten by wide margins (6–0 and 6–1).

- Michael Bruxo