The international governing body for soccer, FIFA, holds a World Cup tournament for under-20 and under-17 boys and girls every two years. These tournaments promote competitiveness at the youth level of the sport and create a framework for the most talented players around the world to be seen at the international level. Additionally, youth leagues around the world adapt FIFA rules for local tournaments.
Rules of Play
The rules of play followed during a match in a FIFA youth soccer tournament are the same as those followed in an adult match. Matches consist of two 45-minute periods with a 15-minute halftime period, and FIFA specifies the field dimensions for each tournament. Goals are scored by hitting the ball over the designated goal line between the goalposts.
Age Restrictions
The FIFA rulebook strictly enforces the age of eligible players in youth soccer tournaments. According to FIFA, players must be born on or after Jan. 1 of the last eligible birth year. For example, if a player is competing in an under-17 tournament in 2011, the player must have been born no earlier than Jan. 1, 1994.
Tournament Format
FIFA breaks its soccer tournaments into group formats. Groups of three or four teams play each other in a round-robin format. The teams that win the most points in the round robin advance to a single-elimination round culminating in a match to determine first and second place, as well as a consolation bracket to determine third and fourth place.
Substitutions and Tiebreakers
FIFA allows a team to have up to three substitute players inserted in the match during play in addition to its starting 11 for any tournament it directly governs. Local competitions can change this rule to allow for unlimited substitute players. If two teams are tied for points at the end of the round robin, tournament officials determine the advancing teams through goal differential, most goals scored, most wins and most shut-outs in that order. If two teams are tied in the elimination stage of the tournament, overtime periods are played followed by penalty kicks to determine a victor.
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