Technical
Staged across the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh from January 6 to 24, the seventh edition marked the last instance of it being played in a non-Olympic year, with the tournament set to be hosted quadrennially as Asia’s official Olympic qualifying platform from 2028 onwards.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh, after which the panel of experts examined the tournament’s unique position as the final non-Olympic edition, which afforded teams the flexibility to pursue varied objectives, including long-term squad development and broader pathway planning.
This was highlighted as one of the defining characteristics of the competition, with teams showcasing a wide range in squad age profiles, thereby reinforcing the platform’s role as a bridge between youth and senior levels.
In the subsequent segments, the experts noted the rising level of competitiveness, with only four matches being decided by a margin of two goals or more, an increase in goals scored from set plays, as well as the growing prowess of goalkeepers in staving off clear chances, reflected in four different custodians being selected as match MVPs across the competition.
The discussions then broadened to key technical themes, including tactical evolution, defensive organisation and the increasing sophistication of game management across the Continent. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying best practices in navigating the transition from U20 to U23 level, a phase regarded as pivotal in sustaining long-term national team success.
The programme also featured a pre-recorded tête-à-tête with Japan’s head coach Go Oiwa, who shared insights into the significance of the tournament and his side’s approach en route to the Final against first-time finalists China PR, before the session later broadened into a wider discussion on structural alignment across national team pathways, where Japan’s integrated framework was referenced as an illustrative case, underscoring the shared philosophy between senior national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu and his U23 counterpart.
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