Italy Advances to U-17 World Cup Semifinals After 1-0 Victory Over Burkina Faso

Decisive Quarterfinal Clash in Qatar

The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 saw a hard-fought quarterfinal match on Friday, November 21, 2025, where Italy's U-17 national team emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso. The crucial encounter took place at ASPIRE Academy Pitch 5 within the Aspire Zone in Qatar, marking Italy's progression to the tournament's semifinals.

Campaniello's Late Strike Seals Victory

The lone goal of the match came in the 83rd minute, courtesy of Italy's Thomas Campaniello. The Italian forward capitalized on a defensive error by Burkina Faso's goalkeeper, Rahim Ouattara, to slot the ball home. This late strike broke a deadlock in a game that had seen both teams create opportunities.

Burkina Faso, known for their resilient play, had their moments to score. Notably, Mohamed Zongo came close on two occasions, hitting the post and then the crossbar, which could have altered the game's outcome. Italy's goalkeeper, Alessandro Longoni, also made key saves to keep his team in contention.

Paths to the Quarterfinals

Italy entered the quarterfinal clash with an impressive record, having won all their preceding matches in the tournament. Their journey included victories against teams such as Qatar, Bolivia, South Africa, Czechia, and Uzbekistan, showcasing a strong performance throughout the competition.

Burkina Faso also demonstrated significant prowess to reach this stage, notably eliminating Uganda in a penalty shootout in the previous round. Their presence in the quarterfinals highlighted their status as a formidable contender in the tournament.

Italy Looks Ahead to Semifinals

With this victory, Italy has reached the semifinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 38 years. They are now set to face Austria in what promises to be another challenging match as they continue their quest for the championship title.