Portugal Sends Brazil Home -Portugal vs Brazil U17: Semi-Final Showdown at the U-17 World Cup 2025

In a tense semi-final showdown, Portugal U17 and Brazil U17 played out a 0–0 draw in regular time. The game was tight and physical with few clear-cut chances.

Ultimately, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, which Portugal won 6-5, knocking Brazil out and advancing to their first ever U-17 World Cup final.

Key moments included a crucial save by Portugal’s goalkeeper Romário Cunha, and Brazil’s Angelo Candido missing the decisive spot-kick.

Portugal's win sets up a Final with Austria who defeated Italy in the other semi final.

Road to the Semi-Finals

• Portugal U17 booked their semi-final spot with a confident 2–0 win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Goals from Mateus Mide and José Neto sealed the victory, as Portugal dominated possession and showed maturity well beyond their years.

• Brazil U17, meanwhile, edged past Morocco U17 with a dramatic stoppage-time winner. After a rather tight game, Brazil showed resilience and clinical finishing to make it through to the next round.

  
  

Tactical Battle: How the Game Played Out

Portugal’s Approach: Relied on structured possession, patience, and high football IQ. They’ve shown they can control games through midfield, using short passes and fluid movement to create openings. With a strong defensive base, Portugal focused on controlling the tempo and limiting Brazil’s counter-attacks.

Brazil’s Game Plan: Brazil leant on their typical samba style, pace down the wings, quick transitions, and unpredictability in the final third. They absorbed pressure early and then unleashed lightning-quick attacks via their pacey forwards.

Why This Portugal vs Brazil U17 Match Matters

• Youth Development Showcase: This semi-final was a perfect illustration of how different footballing cultures develop their young talent.

• High Stakes: A spot in the U-17 World Cup final was on the line, which was massive exposure for these young players and could be a launching pad for future professional careers.

• Legacy and Pressure: Brazil, with its rich footballing history, always carried expectations, even at the youth level. For Portugal, this match was an opportunity to translate their U-17 European success (they won the U-17 EURO 2025) into global glory.