In a historic moment for Chinese football, the U17 national team has secured a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 21 years. The breakthrough came on May 13, 2026, during the U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, where China defeated Qatar 2-0 thanks to goals from He Sifan and Zhang Bolin.
The journey to qualification was fraught with challenges. China U17 started the group stage with a narrow 1-0 loss to Indonesia, followed by a 1-2 defeat against Japan. However, in the decisive final group match, the team delivered a commanding performance against Qatar, winning 2-0. Meanwhile, Japan defeated Indonesia 3-1, creating a three-way tie on points. China advanced on goal difference, edging out both Qatar and Indonesia to clinch a spot in the knockout stage and secure qualification for the U-17 World Cup.
Looking ahead, China U17 is likely to face Saudi Arabia U17 in the next round of the tournament, continuing their quest for glory on the international stage.