In a dramatic turnaround, China’s Under-17 national football team secured a 2-0 victory over Qatar in the final group stage match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup on Wednesday morning, May 13, Beijing time. With Japan concurrently defeating Indonesia 3-1, China advanced to the knockout stage as the group’s second-placed team, punching their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2005.
Entering the match, China’s U17 squad faced an uphill battle after losing their first two group games, leaving them at the bottom of the standings. Their only path to survival required beating Qatar by at least two goals while relying on Japan to overcome Indonesia. Despite the immense pressure, the team delivered when it mattered most.
Coach Fusimi Shimizu made just one change to the starting lineup, bringing in He Sifan to replace Xie Jin. From the opening whistle, China dictated the tempo, with Zhao Songyuan creating several early chances. The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when He Sifan unleashed a stunning long-range strike to open the scoring. In the second half, substitute Zhang Bolin doubled the lead with a 71st-minute header, sealing the 2-0 win.
Thanks to a superior goal difference, China edged into second place in Group B, securing a spot in the quarterfinals and a long-awaited return to the U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in 2026. The last time China participated in the tournament was in 2005, making this a historic achievement for the country’s youth football program.