China PR
Previous appearances: 18
Best finish: 1985 champions
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 5
How they got there: Hosts
Fun fact: China PR will be making their 14th consecutive appearance in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Finals

Australia
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: 2010 runners-up
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 15
How they got there: Qualified as one of best five second-placed teams
Fun fact: Australia have reached the knockout stage in six of their eight appearances

Kyrgyz Republic
Previous appearances: 2
Best finish: Group Stage
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 0
How they got there: Qualified as one of best five second-placed teams
Fun fact: Kyrgyz Republic have yet to win a match at the Finals (3 draws, 3 defeats)

Qatar
Previous appearances: 15
Best finish: 2014 champions
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 4
How they got there: Group J winners
Fun fact: Qatar will be making their sixth consecutive appearance at the AFC U20 Asian Cup Finals

Iraq
Previous appearances: 18
Best finish: Champions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000)
2023 result: Runners-up
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 5
How they got there: Group H winners
Fun fact: Iraq will be making a 10th consecutive appearance in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Finals

Jordan
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: Fourth in 2006
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 1
How they got there: Qualified as one of best five second-placed teams
Fun fact: Jordan have no progressed past the quarter-finals since finishing fourth in the 2006 edition of the AFC U20 Asian Cup

Saudi Arabia
Previous appearances: 15
Best finish: Champions (1986, 1992, 2018)
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearance: 9
How they got there: Group D winners
Fun fact: Saudi Arabia did not concede a single goal in their qualifying campaign

DPR Korea
Previous appearances: 13
Best finish: Champions (1976, 2006, 2010)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearance: 3
How they got there: Group E winners
Fun fact: Besides three title triumphs, DPR Korea finished runners-up in 1990 and 2014

Uzbekistan
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: Champions (2023)
2023 result: Champions
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 5
How they got there: Group B winners
Fun fact: Uzbekistan advanced to the semi-finals in five of their previous eight appearances at the AFC U20 Asian Cup

Islamic Republic of Iran
Previous appearances: 21
Best finish: Champions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 3
How they got there: Group G winners
Fun fact: After their amazing achievement of four consecutive titles and a runners-up finish in 1977, Iran have not reached the final of the AFC U20 Asian Cup

Indonesia
Previous appearances: 19
Best finish: Champions (1961)
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 1
How they got there: Group F winners
Fun fact: Indonesia were unbeaten in their qualifying campaign (2W, 1D) for China 2025

Yemen
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: Quarter-finals (as South Yemen)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: Nil
How they got there: Qualified as one of best five second-placed teams
Fun fact: Yemen will face a familiar foe in Indonesia, with the sides having played to a 1-1 draw in Group F of the Qualifiers

Japan
Previous appearances: 38
Best finish: Champions (2016)
2023 result: Semi-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 11
How they got there: Group I winners
Fun fact: Besides the title won in 2016, Japan have finished runners-up six times

Korea Republic
Previous appearances: 39
Best finish: Champions (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012)
2023 result: Semi-finals
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 16
How they got there: Group C winners
Fun fact: Since winning the last of their 12 titles in 2012, Korea Republic have only advanced to the final once - losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in the 2018 decider

Syria
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: Champions (1994)
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: 4
How they got there: Group A winners
Fun fact: Since winning the title in 1994, the best Syria have managed is a fourth-placed finish in 2004

Thailand
Previous appearances: 33
Best finish: Champions (1962, 1969)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U20 World Cup appearances: Nil
How they got there: Qualified as one of five best second-placed teams
Fun fact: Thailand are the nation with the third most appearances at the Finals