AFC’s U17 Asian Cup kicks off in Saudi Arabia with World Cup 2026 Qatar slots on the line

While the US-driven global uncertainty continues to wreak havoc with Gulf states and national economies worldwide, football in the region has again refused to back down with the AFC kicking off its U17 Asian Cup 2026 finals with 15 teams in Saudi Arabia today.

The Saudis opened the tournament, which is taking place in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City for the second year running, with a 4-0 win over Myanmar. In the other Group A game Tajikistan beat Thailand 2-0

In Group B Japan beat Qatar 3-1 while the fast-developing Indonesians had a 1-0 win over China.

Tomorrow Yemen, the 2002 runners-up, kick-off Group C against Vietnam, while two-time winners South Korea meet the UAE.

Group D also opens with three-time semi-finalists Australia (2010, 2014, 2018), who have qualified for a ninth time, starting against India. Reigning champions Uzbekistan start their defence against India on May 10.

Group D should have had a fourth team, North Korea, however they withdrew, reportedly due to safety concerns in the region.

The AFC U17 Cup is now played annually, following FIFA’s decision to increase the frequency of the U17 World Cup to annual with the first five editions being hosted in Qatar.

Qualification for Asian Cup finals saw seven group winners come through the qualifiers to join the eight AFC nations from the U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.

The top eight finishers (excluding World Cup hosts Qatar, if they finish as one of the eight) will qualify for the 48-team U17 World Cup to be played November 19 to December 13.

Comments

Congo leads early-bird to CAA U-18/20 championships

...South Africa arrives in Abeokuta eyeing historic hat-trick ...Teenage terror and reigning World U-20 100m champion Banda, spearheads South Africa's title defense with sub-10s seasons best ...Team Kenya ready to run for honours at the championships, due in Abeokuta on Tuesday By Mishael Emmanuel The Republic of Congo's delegation to Africa biggest athletics feast at the Junior and Youth level were first amongst the set of early arrivals in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria. This is in a bid to ensure they acclimate and register the best possible showing at the Championships. Team Congo that touched down four days ahead of the 5-day championships received a warm reception at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, South-West, Nigeria. The 28-member delegation who arrived in the early hours of Saturday were received by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Protocol Team. Head of Protocol, Arabirin...

Tinubu to open Big Sports Dialogue 1.0 on Monday as Nigeria eyes a new era

By Maxwell Kumoye Nigeria’s sports landscape is set for a major shake-up as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is billed to officially declare open the Big Sports Dialogue 1.0 on Monday in Lagos. Touted as a bold attempt to confront the long-standing challenges holding back Nigerian sports, the Dialogue will assemble some of the country’s most influential voices in sports governance, marketing, journalism, and athlete development. THE GOAL: • To rebuild • Retool • Reimagine Nigeria’s sports ecosystem At the heart of this high powered gathering are key figures such as: • Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman, National Sports Commission • Honourable Bukola Olopade, Director General National Sports Commission They will be joined by Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu, newly appointed DG of the National Institute of Sports • Consummate marketer Mike Itemuagbor • Basketball sponsor and advocate Igoche Mark Respected media heavyweights Aderonke Ararobin and Rufai Os...

Delegates, board members arrive Abuja ahead of AFN Presidential election

...Chief Tonobok Okowa set to get second term ticket as president By Maxwell Kumoye Delegates and newly elected board members of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), have started arriving in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, ahead of the much anticipated presidential election of the Association. The AFN presidential election which has suffered multiple setbacks and a shift in date and venue is scheduled to be held on Thursday in Abuja. Initially scheduled for Asaba, Delta State on the 31st of May, the polls was shifted to the 12th June by the last Extra Ordinary Congress of the AFN in Abeokuta after the National Sports Commission (NSC), advised that the elections be moved from Asaba to a neutral venue Abuja since at that time three of the four known presidential aspirants were from Delta State. Following the advise, which was more of a directive from the National Sports Commission, one of the aspirant...

FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG

Search This Blog