AFC U20 Asian Cup
Head coach Dejan Djurdjevic has set lofty ambitions for his side as they seek to gain a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025, having last qualified for the global showpiece in 2014.
“The team performed very well in the warm-up matches and improved in every game,” said the 57-year-old Serbian. “We will select the best players through these games and prepare for the Asian Cup.
“Our goal has not changed, which is to get into the top four of this Asian Cup and get a ticket to the World Cup.”
In preparation for the tournament, China PR played several friendlies which saw them beat Syria and draw with Uzbekistan and Thailand.
AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 | Match Day 1 Preview
Their task of starting on a positive note will not be an easy one as they come up against 2015 winners Qatar, who were peerless in their qualifying campaign.
Jordan, Singapore and Hong Kong, China were dispatched in the qualifiers as Qatar topped Group J with maximum points.
Head coach Felix Sarriugarte will be relying on the Spain-based trio of Bassam Adel Eid, Mohamed Khaled Gouda and Ibrahim Mohammadali, who scored a combined eight goals in the Qualifiers, to push Qatar to success.
China PR v Qatar
Venue: Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium (Shenzhen)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:30 (UTC+8)