On the evening of May 11, the 2026 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup quarterfinals concluded in Suzhou, with China defeating India 3-0 to secure a spot in the semifinals and a ticket to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. The semifinal on May 14 at 7:30 PM will see China face North Korea.
This matchup carries special significance for head coach Ma Xiaoxu. Twenty years ago, as a young player, Ma scored the winning goal in the Asian Youth Championship final against North Korea, leading China to victory. However, later that year in the U20 World Cup final, she came off the bench but could not prevent a heavy defeat to the same opponent. Now, Ma leads China’s U17 side against a familiar foe.
In the quarterfinal against India, Ma deployed a 3-4-3 formation. Goalkeeper Niu Ziqi was protected by defenders Chen Jiacun, Zheng Niman, and Liu Yuchen. The midfield quartet featured captain Yang Ruixue (from Guangzhou), Yang Lan, Zhao Siqing, and Li Yaqi, while Wang Chenxi, Huang Qinyi, and Liu Yuxi led the attack.
China controlled possession and created more chances from the start, but India’s defense held firm. In the 38th minute, Huang Qinyi broke the deadlock. Shortly after, in first-half stoppage time, a penalty was awarded after a foul on Liu Yuxi, who converted to make it 2-0. The second half saw China manage the game calmly, and in the 89th minute, substitute Li Qixian scored from a corner to seal the 3-0 victory.
In other quarterfinals, Australia beat Vietnam 2-0, Japan defeated South Korea 1-0, and North Korea thrashed Thailand 6-0. Thus, China, North Korea, Japan, and Australia advanced to the semifinals and earned World Cup places. The semis will be held on May 14 and the final on May 17 at Suzhou Sports Center.
Ma Xiaoxu expressed satisfaction with the result but noted room for improvement. “Some players were still a bit tense. I hope they can show more in the semifinal,” she said.
Ma is well-acquainted with North Korea’s tactics. In the 2006 Asian Youth Championship final, she scored the only goal in a 1-0 win. However, in the 2006 U20 World Cup final, China lost 0-5 to North Korea, with Ma playing only the second half. Now as a coach, she aims to leverage her experience. China’s 3-4-3 formation emphasizes pressing, and the team must prepare for North Korea’s high-intensity, fast-paced style. The senior women’s team’s recent victory over North Korea in the Asian Cup could also provide inspiration.
Edited by Gao Kuai. Images from social media and the AFC.
