In a dramatic turn of events at the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup, China’s U17 men’s national team secured a vital 2-0 victory over Qatar on May 12, propelling them into the quarterfinals and earning a spot in the U17 World Cup for the first time in 21 years.
China finished second in Group B with three points, behind Japan, after a tense group stage that saw three teams tied on points. The win was sealed by goals from He Sifan (13th minute) and Zhang Bolin (71st minute), overcoming a difficult opening phase. Japan defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the other group match, setting up a three-way tie between China, Qatar, and Indonesia, all with three points. China advanced due to a superior goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams.
The victory marks a historic achievement for Chinese youth football, ending a 21-year drought since the last U17 World Cup appearance. In the quarterfinals, China is likely to face Saudi Arabia, the group A leaders and tournament hosts. Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have already secured their spots from Group A.
Looking at other groups, Group C remains wide open with South Korea in a strong position, while Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen all have chances to advance. In Group D, Australia and Uzbekistan have already progressed after Australia’s 4-0 win over India and Uzbekistan’s 3-0 victory against the same opponent. North Korea withdrew from the tournament, simplifying the group.
China’s U17 side now faces a tough challenge against Saudi Arabia, but their qualification for the World Cup is already a major milestone for the program.