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FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Semi-finalists at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ in May, China PR showed they have the ability to trouble any team as they put eventual champions DPR Korea to the sternest of tests before bowing out.
Factfile
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: Round of 16 (2025)
How they qualified: AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 semi-finalists
Head coach: Ma Xiaoxu
Fixtures: October 19 v Kenya; October 22 v Samoa; October 25 v United States
Fun fact: Current senior teams stars like Tang Jiali (2012) and Yao Wei (2014) have played in this competition before.
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: Round of 16 (2025)
How they qualified: AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 semi-finalists
Head coach: Ma Xiaoxu
Fixtures: October 19 v Kenya; October 22 v Samoa; October 25 v United States
Fun fact: Current senior teams stars like Tang Jiali (2012) and Yao Wei (2014) have played in this competition before.
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The 4-2 defeat in the last four tie was not reflective of the tough fight China PR gave DPR Korea, becoming the first team in the competition to breach their opponents’ previously impenetrable defence.
In fact, the tournament hosts displayed tremendous fighting spirit to claw their way back into the game from 2-0 down to restore parity before tiredness gave way to DPR Korea's power at the end.
China PR’s performance in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025 will also give confidence to the team that they can match anyone, having put aside Norway and Ecuador 5-0 and 4-0 respectively in the group stage.
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Just like last year, China PR are matched up with the United States in Group E and they will be keen to avenge the 5-2 defeat before eventually bowing out in the Round of 16 with a 3-0 loss against Brazil.
Ma’s brand of intense high pressing - with the core of the work done by forwards Wu Yichen, Liu Yuxi and Cheng Wandi - will not make it comfortable for their opponents and if China PR can get their finishing right, they could go a long way in the tournament.
