China PR qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™ with a final flourish after defeating Qatar at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup to finish second in their group and reach the knockout rounds.
After losing their opening two matches — 1-0 to Indonesia and then 2-1 to eventual table-toppers Japan — China needed a series of results to go their way on Tuesday to secure their return to the global finals for the first time since 2005.
Their 2-0 victory over Qatar, coupled with Japan’s 3-1 victory over Indonesia, which rubber-stamped their progress as Group B winners, meant China secured their passage on goal difference.
It has been a long wait for the Asian nation, who last competed at the U-17 World Cup at Peru 2005 when they reached the quarter-finals.
China join fellow Asian countries Australia, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and and Uzbekistan at the finals, with the final draw set to take place at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich on 21 May. The tournament runs from 19 November to 13 December.
