April 1 – The 16-nation AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 kicks off Thursday, April 3 with the top eight finishers qualifying for the first of the expanded annual 48-team U-17 World Cups to be played in Qatar this November.
All matches will be played in the cities of Jeddah and Taif.
Record four-time champions Japan (1994, 2006, 2018, 2023) are one fo the favourites to win the title and are one of nine former winners. 12 teams featured in the 2023 finals. The opening game sees 2012 winners Uzbekistan and 1998 champions Thailand clash in Group A at the Okaz Stadium in Taif.
Later the in the day Saudi Arabia will begin their campaign for a third title in their 12th finals appearance against China at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif. The Saudis won in 1985 and 1988, with the latter followed by a stunning success at the FIFA U-16 World Championship a year later. Saudi Arabia are the only Asian team to win a FIFA men’s national team tournament.
Semi-finalists on three occasions, Australia open Group B against Vietnam on April 4 in Group B, followed by Japan against UAE at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
Group C opens with two-time champions South Korea (1986, 2002) playing their 70th match in tournament history at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. The 2023 runners-up’ 16th appearance at the finals opens against Indonesia.
Yemen face Afghanistan in the other opening Group C game in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium.
Group D starts April 5 with the top scorers in qualifying (38 goals) Tajikistan meeting 2018 runners-up Oman. In the other game in Group D, North Korea face Iran at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.
Groups:
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, China PR
Group B: Japan, Australia, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates
Group C: Korea Republic, Yemen, Afghanistan, Indonesia
Group D: IR Iran, Tajikistan, Oman, DPR Korea
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