AFC U17 Asian Cup
Fifteen teams will lock horns at the 21st edition of the youth showcase, which is taking place in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City as Saudi Arabia plays host for the second year running.
The cast comprises seven group winners that came through the Qualifiers in November 2025 and eight AFC representatives from the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, with berths at the next World Cup on offer to the top eight finishers—excluding hosts Qatar, if they finish as one of the eight—in addition to ultimate glory.
Having allowed the world its first glimpses at the likes of Son Heung-min, Sardar Azmoun, Takefusa Kubo, Nestory Irankunda, Ryunosuke Sato, Wang Yudong and Sadriddin Khasanov, Saudi Arabia 2026 will shine the spotlight on a new batch of rising stars that can similarly take the game by storm.
May 5
Japan begin their quest for a record fifth crown at 7pm with a Group B opener against 1990 champions Qatar at Pitch C – Future, marking the 18th—the most in tournament history—and 12th Finals showing respectively for the duo.
At 7.30pm at Pitch A – Stars, Indonesia make their eighth appearance with the aim of bettering their fourth-place finish from 1990 as they face China PR in the second Group B fixture, with the two-time winners (1992, 2004) advancing from the Qualifiers to seal a 17th involvement.
Runners-up in 2025, Saudi Arabia will try to go one better and add to their two titles from 1985 and 1988 . The home side start their 13th campaign at 8pm at the Hall Stadium – Legends with a Group A opening battle against Myanmar, who came through qualifying to book their fifth involvement and first since 2006, as they eye progress to the knockouts for the first time.
Making their sixth appearance and aiming to surpass their runners-up finish from 2018, Tajikistan take on 1998 champions Thailand in the other Group B game at 8.30pm at Pitch B – Champions, with the latter chalking up a 14th showing after successfully navigating the Qualifiers.
May 6
Group D’s opening fixture at 7pm at Pitch C – Future sees three-time semi-finalists Australia (2010, 2014, 2018), who qualified for a ninth occasion, pitted against an India side that has twice reached the last eight (2002, 2018) and are playing at a 10th Finals after a three-year gap from their previous involvement in 2023.
Yemen, the 2002 runners-up, undertake their eighth Finals campaign at 8pm with their Group C opener at the Hall Stadium – Legends against Vietnam, who are at their 10th involvement and count a fourth-placed finish in 2000 as their best showing.
Competing for a 17th occasion, 2025 semi-finalists and two-time winners (1986, 2002) Korea Republic embark on their Group C journey at 8.30pm by facing the United Arab Emirates at Pitch B – Champions, with the latter—runners-up in 1990—taking part in their ninth Finals.
May 10
Following the withdrawal of DPR Korea from Group D, Uzbekistan are set to get their 12th appearance underway at Hall Stadium – Legends against India at 8pm. The Central Asians reclaimed the crown last time out, 13 years after their first title in 2012 and a successful defence will place them second in the trophy count, only behind Japan’s four.
