The FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025 made history in Chile, even before the final game between Morocco and Argentina.
More than half a million fans have attended matches across Santiago, Valparaíso, Rancagua, and Talca — almost twice as many as in the previous edition in Argentina, which sold around 300,000 tickets.
The surge in attendance has turned this tournament into one of the most vibrant youth World Cups in recent memory. Stadiums have been packed from the group stage to the semifinals — a rare sight in Chile, where local league games rarely draw such large crowds. Yet, over these weeks, it didn’t seem to matter who was playing: fans came anyway, filling the stands and giving the matches the atmosphere of a senior World Cup.
It’s a reminder that Chile is built for football. From the 1962 World Cup to the youth tournaments of 1987, 2008, and 2015, the country has always delivered. But this time, something different happened — a genuine connection between fans and the game that went beyond flags and rivalries. Families, students, and entire communities turned each match into a celebration.
On the field, the competition has reflected the global balance FIFA has sought for years. Five confederations reached the Round of 16, four advanced to the quarterfinals, and three made it to the semi-finals. The final, between CONMEBOL and CAF nations, promises to close the tournament with the same intensity that has marked every round.
Beyond the results, Chile has proven that a youth World Cup can feel like a major event when the fans make it their own. The organization was smooth, the stadiums full, and the energy undeniable. For a country where football is part of everyday life — but where packed stadiums aren’t always guaranteed — this tournament has been a powerful statement: give people good football, and they will show up.
Now, all eyes turn to the grand finale: Morocco vs. Argentina, a clash between two football cultures that have defined this tournament in different ways. The match at Estadio Nacional is already sold out, with more than 45,000 fans expected to fill the stands in Santiago. It’s a fitting end to a World Cup that has broken records, celebrated diversity, and reminded the world that when Chile hosts football, the passion is guaranteed.
