The countdown to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ continues to gather momentum as the official draw is set to take place in Santiago this Thursday, 29 May. Football fans around the world will be able to watch the event unfold live via FIFA+, with the ceremony kicking off at 18:00 local time.

Held at the Chilevisión Machasa studios in the heart of the Chilean capital, the draw will be hosted by prominent local journalist Javiera Naranjo. FIFA’s Director of Tournaments, Jaime Yarza, will oversee proceedings, with South American football legend Juan Pablo Sorín serving as assistant.

Sorín, a former Argentina international and FIFA Legend, famously captained his country to the title at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship and later featured at the senior FIFA World Cups in 2002 and 2006. His presence brings added gravitas to an event that marks a key milestone in the build-up to this prestigious youth competition.

This marks the second time Chile has hosted the men’s U-20 showpiece, following the 1987 edition when the tournament was still known as the FIFA World Youth Championship. On that occasion, Yugoslavia claimed glory in a dramatic final against West Germany. Chile has also previously staged other major FIFA tournaments, including the 1962 FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2008™, and the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015™.

The 2025 edition will be contested across four host cities—Santiago, Valparaíso, Rancagua, and Talca—from 27 September to 19 October. In anticipation, FIFA has already unveiled the tournament's official brand identity, emblem, mascot “Vito™,” and opened applications for its volunteer programme.

Thursday’s draw will set the stage for an exciting group phase, with 24 nations from six confederations preparing for their shot at global youth football glory. Among the qualified teams are perennial powerhouses Argentina and Brazil, boasting six and five titles respectively, while New Caledonia will be making their debut on the world stage.

Qualified Teams by Confederation:

• AFC: Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia

• CAF: Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa

• Concacaf: Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA

• CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Chile (hosts), Colombia, Paraguay

• OFC: New Caledonia, New Zealand

• UEFA: France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Ukraine

Fans eager to be part of the action in Chile can register their interest in tickets via the tournament’s dedicated page on FIFA.com.

As one of FIFA’s flagship youth competitions, the U-20 World Cup has long been a springboard for future global stars. With a rich blend of historic favourites and emerging talents, Chile 2025 promises another thrilling chapter in the tournament’s storied legacy.