The seven teams advancing as group winners include China (Group A), Yemen (Group B), Vietnam (Group C), India (Group D), Australia (Group E), Thailand (Group F), and Myanmar (Group G).

China impressed the most, winning all five of its matches, scoring an astonishing 42 goals without conceding a single one - the best record across the qualifiers.

Vietnam was not far behind, asserting dominance in Group C with five wins, 30 goals scored, and zero conceded. Their flawless run puts them among the top contenders for the upcoming finals.

The 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup will feature 16 teams in total. Nine of these have been granted automatic qualification: hosts Saudi Arabia and eight nations that participated in the 2025 U17 World Cup - Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Qatar, South Korea, Tajikistan, UAE, and Uzbekistan.

Among the final 16, eight teams are former champions of the tournament, setting the stage for an intense and high-quality competition. Notably, Southeast Asia will be represented by four teams for the first time: Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

The final tournament will take place from May 7 to May 24, 2026. The top eight teams from the competition will earn qualification for the 2026 U17 World Cup, hosted by Qatar.

Thien Binh