Croatia's U-17 football team has learned its opponents for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will take place from November 19 to December 13, 2026, in Doha, Qatar. The team will face Senegal, Cuba, and Tajikistan in their group stage matches.

The squad, coached by Marijan Budimir, will kick off the tournament on November 20 against Senegal, followed by a match against Tajikistan on November 23, and Cuba on November 26. This will mark the fifth time Croatia's U-17 team has qualified for the World Cup.

- It will be exciting to play against teams from different confederations and playing styles. We have drawn Senegal again, like last year, and will play our first match against what is considered to be our toughest opponent, Budimir said in an interview with the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).

- Cuba and Tajikistan are certainly quality teams, as they qualified for the World Cup. However, this is our second consecutive appearance at the World Cup, and we believe in our strength and hope for a group stage advancement. After that, it will depend on the draw, and I hope we will have a bit more luck in the knockout phase than we did last year.

Group Stages:

Group A: Qatar, Panama, Egypt, Greece.
Group B: South Korea, CAF 1, New Caledonia, Ecuador.
Group C: Argentina, Australia, CAF 2, Denmark.
Group D: France, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
Group E: Italy, Jamaica, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan.
Group F: Senegal, Croatia, Cuba, Tajikistan.
Group G: Mali, New Zealand, Belgium, Vietnam.
Group H: Spain, China, Fiji, Morocco.
Group I: Brazil, Republic of Ireland, Tanzania, Costa Rica.
Group J: USA, Montenegro, Chile, Algeria.
Group K: Mexico, Romania, Cameroon, Venezuela.
Group L: Japan, Colombia, Serbia, Honduras.

Key Players and Expectations

The team is led by experienced coach Marijan Budimir, who aims to build on the success from the previous World Cup appearance. The squad features promising young talents, and the expectations are high as Croatia looks to advance beyond the group stage and make a significant impact in the tournament.

Budimir's team will need to adapt quickly to the different playing styles of their opponents, especially the African and Asian teams, to secure their place in the knockout stages. With a mix of talent and experience, the Croatian U-17 team is ready to face the challenges ahead.

The upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup promises to be an exciting event, with many talented young players from around the world showcasing their skills. Croatia's U-17 team is looking forward to the opportunity to compete on the world stage and hopes to achieve significant success.