AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Finals to Kick Off Thursday in Saudi Arabia

The AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 will commence next Thursday, bringing together 16 Asian teams competing in the cities of Jeddah and Taif.

 The tournament’s opening match will see Uzbekistan face off against Thailand at Okaz Club Stadium in Taif at 6:00 PM. Later that evening, the Saudi national team, which has won the championship twice in 1985 and 1988, will take on China at 8:15 PM at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif.

 The competition will be played across four venues: King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah, as well as King Fahd Sports City and Okaz Club Stadium in Taif. This year’s edition introduces a new format, with the top eight teams earning a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar in November 2025.

 The championship will feature four groups. Saudi Arabia, as the host nation, leads Group A alongside Uzbekistan, Thailand, and China. Group B consists of Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and the UAE. Group C includes Korea, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Group D brings together Iran, Tajikistan, Oman, and North Korea.