Brazil's U-17 Team Set to Clash with Portugal in Thrilling World Cup Semifinal
Brazil's U-17 team advances to the 2025 World Cup semifinals with a last-minute win over Morocco, set to face Portugal next.
- • Brazil defeated Morocco 2-1 with two goals from Dell, including a last-minute winner.
- • Goalkeeper João Pedro was crucial in penalty shootouts against Paraguay and France.
- • Brazil dominated their group stage with wins over Honduras and Indonesia.
- • Portugal reached the semifinals after overcoming Belgium, Mexico, and Switzerland.
Key details
The Brazilian U-17 national team has secured a dramatic place in the semifinals of the 2025 U-17 World Cup after a gripping 2-1 victory over Morocco at the Aspire Zone in Doha on November 21. Dell was the standout player, scoring both of Brazil's goals, including a last-minute winner in the 49th minute of the second half, showcasing Brazil's resilience and attacking prowess.
Brazil's journey to the semis has been intense, marked by two nail-biting penalty shootouts. In the round of 16, goalkeeper João Pedro was instrumental in Brazil’s win against Paraguay by saving three penalties. He repeated this heroics in the quarter-finals against France, saving two penalties to ensure Brazil’s progression. The quarter-final against Morocco was an intense contest; Brazil opened the scoring at 16 minutes through Dell, but Morocco equalized via a penalty just before halftime. Both teams had opportunities in the second half, but it was Dell’s late decisive strike that sealed Brazil’s victory.
Brazil displayed dominance in the group stage, winning comfortably against Honduras (7-0) and Indonesia (4-0), and drawing with Zambia, which allowed them to finish at the top of their group. Their upcoming semifinal opponent, Portugal, had a more mixed group stage performance and knockout phase. They defeated New Caledonia and Morocco but lost to Japan in the group stage. Portugal then advanced through the knockout rounds by eliminating Belgium, Mexico, and Switzerland.
The semifinal match between Brazil and Portugal is scheduled for November 24, and it promises to be a highly competitive encounter given the recent performances of both sides. Brazil’s strong defensive and attacking performances, along with their grit in penalty shootouts, contrast with Portugal’s steady knockout run, setting the stage for an exciting clash.
This semifinal is eagerly anticipated by Brazilian football fans who have followed the team’s resilient journey throughout the tournament.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.