In a dramatic final group stage match, China’s U17 men’s national team defeated Qatar 2-0 to qualify for the U17 Asian Cup knockout stage and secure a historic berth in the U17 World Cup. 
The victory came after a tense campaign where China started with defeats against Indonesia (0-1) and Japan (1-2), leaving them with a must-win scenario against host nation Qatar. A two-goal margin was required to guarantee progression without relying on other results. 
He Sifan opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a curling shot from the left flank, before substitute Zhang Bolin headed home the second in the 71st minute. The result meant China finished third in the group but advanced as the best-performing third-placed team after Qatar’s elimination as host.
“It was do-or-die, and we just pushed forward,” said captain He Sifan after the match. 
The achievement marked the first time China’s U17 team had qualified for the World Cup since 2005, ending a six-tournament drought. The team, coached by Japanese manager Fushimi Ken, had trained intensively in Zhaoqing before selecting the final 23-man squad.
With Japan also advancing as group winners, China will now prepare for the U17 World Cup next month. The result represents a significant breakthrough for Chinese youth football development.