Gli Azzurrini entered the tournament aiming to secure the nation’s first U17 World Cup title, but ultimately finished third, marking their best-ever result in the competition’s history.
Under coach Massimiliano Favo, the team enjoyed an impressive six-game unbeaten run before their juggernaut was halted by a 2-0 semi-final loss to Austria.
Nevertheless, they bounced back to claim the bronze medal by defeating former champions Brazil on penalties.
Despite missing out on the elusive trophy, the West Bromwich Albion sensation applauded his side’s quality throughout the tournament, accentuating their inspiring performance on the global stage.
"Honestly, after losing the semi-final match, everyone was disheartened because we thought we had the potential to go all the way," Iddrisa told Flashscore in an exclusive interview.
"But football is unpredictable, and we just focused on trying to get a medal to be the best third team in the U-17 World Cup, which is a massive achievement as well.
"I think my performance overall has been good. I think I played a good part for the team, out of possession and in possession. I think I created chances, defended well."
Born in Brescia, Italy, to Ghanaian parents, 17-year-old first represented Italy at U15 level before moving up to the U17s.
He played a key role in Italy's fourth-place finish at the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Albania.
In Qatar, he was instrumental, featuring in every game except the match against Bolivia, and earned praise from FIFA’s Technical Study Group for his standout performances.
Despite his defensive role, he found the net in his country’s 3–2 victory over Uzbekistan in their Round of 16 clash.
Iddrisa reflected on the lessons he gained from the global tournament as he heads back to England to continue his football development with the Baggies and what is next at international level.
"I think the lessons I'll take back to England is the competitiveness in every game," he continued.
"Even if that's the group stage or the semi-finals, every game is competitive and you must strive to win. I think I'm going to take that back and hopefully influence others to be as competitive as I am.
"Our togetherness in the national team is another thing I will take with me. I think that showed out on the pitch just how we celebrate together, how we play together.
"I think we're trying to first of all take step by step (at international level) and try to perform well in our upcoming friendlies.
"We've got under-19 qualifiers as well, so we're going to try and qualify for that. We're just going to take everything step by step and improve our football."
He spoke about his pre-match rituals, especially how speaking with his dad, Dauda, before games influences his performance and motivates him to give his best, as seen in the recently concluded tournament.
"Before every game, I always speak to my dad and he always tells me the same messages which is work hard, perform well," he added.
"I remember this every time and it sticks with me every time because that would give me a pathway to hopefully become a successful professional footballer."
Despite his reserved demeanour off the field, Iddrisa has always shown he is a talented footballer.
At just 16, he made his senior debut for West Brom in the English Football League Cup against Fleetwood on August 13, 2024. In that fixture, he came on as a substitute for Harry Whitwell in the 78th minute under manager Carlos Corberan.
Iddrisa is a versatile player capable of excelling in both midfield and defence. If he continues his current development, he could ignite a senior international bidding war between Italy, England, and even Ghana, potentially becoming the crown jewel of the Black Stars’ future.
