Vela Khumalo’s young Amajimbos side will face Japan in the Round of 32 at the ongoing FIFA U17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, marking another milestone in their impressive campaign.
South Africa advanced after finishing second in Group A with four points — beating Bolivia, drawing with hosts Qatar, and narrowly losing to Italy, who topped the group. The result placed Amajimbos as the 11th-seeded runner-up, earning them a last-32 clash against Japan, the Group B winners and 10th seed among group leaders.
The knockout round begins Friday, 14 November 2025, with the South Africa–Japan encounter expected to be one of the standout fixtures.
Japan’s path to the knockouts was unconventional — they defeated Portugal 2–1, drew 0–0 with New Caledonia, and topped their group despite inconsistent performances. In contrast, Morocco, who were also in Japan’s group, qualified as one of the best third-placed teams after a record-breaking 16–0 win over New Caledonia.
Amajimbos’ progression continues South Africa’s growing youth-football momentum, joining the likes of Banyana Banyana and Amajita in recent global knockout appearances.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan hailed the team’s rise, highlighting their technical quality and resilience:
“You can see this team can play football,” said Jordaan. “Even Arsène Wenger and FIFA’s observers were impressed. Mistakes at this level are costly, but these players are learning fast. They’ve grown as a team and as individuals.”
If Amajimbos overcome Japan, they will face the winner of the Venezuela vs North Korea clash as the dream World Cup run continues in Doha.
Amajimbos Round of 32 FIFA U17 Fixtures
