under17

Under17, often written as Under-17 or U-17, is an age category used in competitive sports and other programs to designate participants who are younger than 17 years old. It is widely applied in youth development systems, particularly in association football (soccer), to create age-appropriate cohorts for training, competition, and talent identification. Eligibility is determined by the governing body of the sport and typically relies on a fixed date, such as the start of a competition year, to define the age cutoff.

In association football, the Under-17 division operates at both national and international levels. The FIFA U-17 World Cup is the premier global tournament for this age group; it began in 1985 as the FIFA U-16 World Championship and later adopted the U-17 designation. The event is held every two years and brings together national teams composed of players eligible to compete in the Under-17 category. Regional bodies, such as UEFA, also organize Under-17 championships, which often serve as qualifiers for the world event and as key development platforms for young players.

Beyond football, many other sports and national programs use Under17 divisions to structure competitions and development pathways. The Under17 level is generally regarded as a critical stage in athlete development, offering young players exposure to structured coaching, international or cross-regional competition, and progression opportunities to higher age groups or professional careers.