Portugal has lifted their first-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy following a narrow 1-0 win against Austria in the final of the 2025 edition, held at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The reigning European U-17 champions clinched the historic victory thanks to a goal from Anisio Cabral in the 32nd minute, marking a milestone in Portugal’s youth football history.

Match Highlights: Portugal vs Austria

The final saw both Portugal and Austria competing at this level for the first time, delivering an intense and tightly contested match. Cabral’s decisive goal came after a swift Portuguese passing move, finishing a well-orchestrated team attack.

Austria, led by tournament top scorer Johannes Moser with eight goals, pressed hard throughout the game. Substitute Daniel Frauscher came closest to equalizing in the 85th minute with a low drive that hit the post seconds after entering the field. Despite their efforts, Austria was unable to break through Portugal’s defense.

The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of the final, with Austria slightly edging in shots on goal (15 to 14) and goal attempts (5 to 4), though Portugal’s clinical finishing secured the championship.

Individual Performances

Anisio Cabral finished the tournament with seven goals, narrowly missing out on the Golden Boot to Moser, but his performance proved decisive in Portugal’s historic triumph. Portugal’s teamwork, speed, and composure under pressure were highlighted as key factors in their victory.

Third Place Playoff

Earlier in the day, Italy defeated Brazil 4-2 on penalties in the third-place playoff following a goalless draw in regular time. Italy had lost 2-0 to Austria in the semifinals, while Brazil fell to Portugal 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout in their semifinal clash.

FIFA and Arsene Wenger Praise

The 2025 tournament, the inaugural 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, received praise from Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal manager. Wenger called Qatar a “football paradise” and emphasized the tournament’s role in advancing youth development worldwide:

“We want every federation to make an effort to develop their youth. And at the moment, this is not the case. We believe that this tournament will push everybody to make more effort to develop their youth system and education.”

Portugal’s Rising Youth Football Legacy

Portugal’s U-17 squad has continued the nation’s reputation for producing world-class talent. With their victory in Qatar, Portugal demonstrates the strength of its youth development programs and sets a benchmark for future tournaments.

This win not only adds to Portugal’s trophy cabinet but also reinforces the country’s commitment to nurturing young talent and its emerging dominance in global youth football.