Uganda’s U-17 national football team, the Cubs, are set to make history on Wednesday when they step onto the pitch for their first-ever FIFA World Cup match, a milestone marking Uganda’s debut at any global football tournament. The Cubs begin their campaign against Canada on November 5, before meeting Chile on November 8 and wrapping up Group K fixtures with France on November 11 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

Their qualification came after a dramatic 2–1 playoff triumph over The Gambia in April, held in Morocco. This special playoff, introduced following CAF’s receipt of an extra qualification slot, matched the third-placed teams from Groups A and C at the 2025 U-17 AFCON in a decisive, winner-takes-all showdown.

Head coach Brian Ssenyondo finalized his 21-man squad last Thursday after a nine-day training camp in Dubai. During the camp, Uganda played three international friendlies against Venezuela, Panama, and Paraguay’s U-17 sides. “When you look at this team, we have not made many changes. We only included players we used in CECAFA but missed in AFCON. So we have just balanced the team, not changed it,” Ssenyondo explained when announcing his squad.

The Cubs touched down in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday to complete their final preparations. Assistant captain Abubakali Walusimbi said the training stint in Dubai proved crucial for adapting to conditions ahead of the tournament. “It’s actually not too different from home, so we won’t face many challenges,” he noted.

Walusimbi also praised the friendlies as valuable preparation. “They gave us a good test and a great experience. We have already switched from friendly mode to competition mode, and we’ll do our best to represent the country well,” he said. According to Ssenyondo, the matches offered clear insights into tactical improvements, particularly in transition play. “These games gave us the right picture, and I believe we are ready for our first match,” he added.

Uganda’s appearance in Qatar follows previous near-misses at global tournaments. The U-20 national team, the Hippos, had qualified for the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the senior side, the Cranes, continue to chase a maiden World Cup appearance, even with the expanded slots available for the 2026 edition.

The 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, running from November 3 to 27 in Qatar, marks the start of a new annual format featuring 48 teams double the previous number. Uganda joins El Salvador, Fiji, the Republic of Ireland, and Zambia as debutants. Qatar will continue to host the next five editions through 2029.