Austria U17 Advances to World Cup Final with 2-0 Win Over Italy

Austria's under-17 national team advanced to the final of the FIFA U17 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Italy in the first semifinal on Monday, November 24, 2025, in a match played in the tournament's host nation of Qatar. Johannes Moser scored both goals for the Austrians, securing their place against the winner of the Portugal-Brazil semifinal.

The defeat ended Italy's impressive run through the newly formatted 48-team competition, where the Azzurrini remained unbeaten until this clash. They had won all six prior matches, starting with group-stage triumphs over hosts Qatar by 1-0, Bolivia by 4-0 and South Africa by 3-1. In the knockout rounds, Italy edged Czechia 2-0, overcame Uzbekistan 3-2 and defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the quarterfinals to reach their first semifinal in 38 years.

Austria, also unbeaten entering the match, built momentum with a disciplined defensive display that limited opponents to just three goals across their first six games. Their quarterfinal win over Japan by 1-0 highlighted their organization and composure, setting the stage for this European showdown. Both teams entered with strong records of balance between possession and counterattacks, but...