DOHA, Qatar — Portugal clinched the FIFA U-17 World Cup title on Thursday, edging out Austria 1-0 in the championship match of the 48-nation tournament, which saw European teams dominate the top spots.
Benfica striker Anisio Cabral, who barely kept himself onside, received a pass just beyond the goal area and scored into an open net in the 32nd minute.
With this goal, Cabral finished the tournament with seven goals, just one behind Austria’s Johannes Moser, who was awarded the Golden Ball.
This marked Portugal’s inaugural Under-17 title, occurring during the 20th edition of the tournament, which FIFA has transitioned to an annual event rather than biennial.
Qatar was the host city for this edition and will continue to host the tournament for the next four years.
Earlier in Doha, in the third-place match, Italy and Brazil ended regulation time in a 0-0 draw, with Italy winning 4-2 on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Alessandro Longoni’s two penalty saves.
Fan Take: This victory is significant for soccer fans as it highlights Portugal’s rising talent on the international stage, potentially paving the way for future stars. It showcases the growing competitiveness of European teams in youth tournaments, which is essential for the overall development of the sport globally.
