Taif and Jeddah to Host AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Tomorrow

The cities of Taif and Jeddah will host the kickoff of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 tomorrow. The tournament will run from April 3 to 20 and feature the participation of 16 teams.

 The championship will be played under a new format. Teams that qualify for the quarter-finals will advance directly to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Qatar will soon host.

 A draw conducted last January placed the host team, Saudi Arabia, at the top of Group A, alongside Uzbekistan, Thailand, and China. Group B includes Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and the UAE, while Group C is led by Korea, alongside Yemen, Afghanistan, and Indonesia. Group D features Iran, Tajikistan, Oman, and North Korea.

 President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Almisehal welcomed the participating teams, all of whom have now arrived in the Kingdom in preparation for the competition. He extended his best wishes for their stay in Saudi Arabia and expressed hope for a highly competitive tournament that reflects the level of Asian football.

 Almisehal emphasized that Saudi Arabia's hosting of the AFC U17 Championship is part of a series of major sporting events recently hosted by the Kingdom, reaffirming its status as a leading destination for international sports and football tournaments. He further noted that this hosting reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting and developing Asian football, expressing his anticipation for a strong competition that will contribute to the growth of Saudi and Asian football alike.