Official: Desert Owl BOMA becomes the mascot of the U17 World Cup to pay tribute to Milu’s contribution

October 30 FIFA official news, Desert Owl BOMA™ has become the official mascot of the 2025 FIFA AU17 World Cup in Qatar. As the countdown to the historic event gradually approaches, the game starting next Monday will bring together the world's most dazzling young football talents.

BOMA symbolizes the indispensable but often overlooked role of scouts in the football world. The mascot's name, BOMA, means "owl" in Arabic and pays special tribute to legendary Serbian former player and tactician Milutinovic. He led five different national teams to five consecutive FIFA World Cups from 1986 to 2002, and later made important contributions to the development of Qatari football as a coach and scout.

Qatar's rise in the global football ecosystem is partly due to Milutinovic, who has been an advisor, mentor and passionate supporter of Qatari football since moving to the Persian Gulf country in 2009. He was involved in the country's successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and served as a consultant and ambassador for the prestigious Asbel Academy's Technology Center and Talent Incubator, helping to develop two consecutive Asian Cup winning teams and the most recent team that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America.

Like Milu, mascot BOMA is known for his wisdom and experience, with a keen eye for finding and cultivating the next generation of superstars. With his unique look, BOMA's thick hair and striking glasses, he is the perfect symbol of a competition that sees football's most promising and exciting stars take to the world stage for the first time.

BOMA is a fitting tribute to Milutinovic and all those who use his expertise, vision and insight to identify talent in a variety of environments. The lively Desert Owl will take center stage in next month's 48-team expansion tournament, which will be held in a family-friendly atmosphere in Doha's state-of-the-art Asbair district.

Modern stars such as Pedri, Neymar, Foden and Son Heung-min have all made their mark in the U-17 World Cup. Past tournaments have provided a platform for legends including Buffon, Figo, Xavi, Hazard, Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Totti to make unforgettable debuts on the world stage.