On May 13th, Beijing time, the U17 Asian Cup Group B concluded with the U17 national team securing a spot in this year’s U17 World Cup, marking the first time in 21 years that Chinese men’s football has qualified for a world-level tournament.
The U17 team faced a tough start, losing 0-1 to Indonesia and 1-2 to Japan, leaving them last in the group. Going into the final match against Qatar, their fate was no longer entirely in their own hands.
Fortunately, the U17 national team defeated Qatar 2-0 in the decisive game, while Japan beat Indonesia 3-1. With all three teams finishing on three points and each having one win head-to-head, China advanced to second place in the group on goal difference, clinching qualification.
The draw for the 2026 U17 World Cup will take place on May 21st at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, with the tournament running from November 19th to December 13th, 2026, featuring 48 teams.
This is China’s first appearance in the tournament since 2005, when both the U20 and U17 teams participated in their respective world championships. That year marked the last time Chinese men’s football competed on a global stage.
Under regulations, the U17 team’s advancement to the Asian Cup quarter-finals means at least five players will earn the “Master of Sports” title, provided they have played at least 40% of the total match minutes in the tournament.
Noted journalist Xiao Kang commented: “Chinese football rarely avoids calculation errors! Tonight the stars shine bright.” Another journalist, Ma Dexing, added: “Anyone who went to the U17 World Cup in Peru in 2005, raise your hand! I’ve waited 21 years to finally go again.”
