The 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup group stage concluded with a dramatic final round in Group B. China’s U17 national team secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Qatar in their last match, while Japan delivered a 3-1 win against Indonesia. Thanks to Japan’s help, China advanced from the group stage on goal difference, marking the first time in 21 years that China has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
After two consecutive losses—0-1 to Indonesia and 1-2 to Japan—China’s situation looked bleak. However, results in other matches kept their hopes alive. For the final round, China needed to beat Qatar by at least two goals and hope Japan would defeat Indonesia. The team delivered under pressure, with He Sifan scoring in the 13th minute and Zhang Bailin heading home in the 79th minute to seal a 2-0 win. In the parallel match, Japan cruised to a 3-1 victory over Indonesia without any surprises.
The group standings flipped dramatically after the final round: Japan topped the group with nine points, while China finished second on goal difference ahead of Indonesia, earning a spot in both the quarterfinals and the U17 World Cup. This is China’s first appearance at the world youth tournament since 2005, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive absences. In the quarterfinals, China will face Saudi Arabia’s U17 team.
