The next wave of talent on the Continent will have the perfect opportunity to shine when the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 gets underway on Thursday, April 3.
 
Taking place for the 20th occasion, the cities of Jeddah and Taif will provide the stage for the 16-strong cast to showcase their abilities at a tournament with a stellar record of unearthing future stars.
 
Notable names like Son Heung-min, Takumi Minamino, Sardar Azmoun and Omar Khribin have made their mark in the past, while the likes of Takefusa Kubo, Ali Jasim, Yang Min-hyeok and Nestory Irankunda are some of the top prospects to have excelled more recently.
 
Record four-time champions Japan (1994, 2006, 2018, 2023)  are out to retain the crown and are one of nine former winners that will be in Saudi Arabia, where 12 teams also featured at the previous edition in 2023.
 
Additionally, the top eight finishers will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 – the first edition of the newly expanded 48-team strong annual tournament; Afghanistan and Yemen are the two sides eyeing a maiden appearance on the global stage.
 
The first match takes place between 2012 winners Uzbekistan and 1998 champions Thailand, who will play their Group A clash at 6pm at the Okaz Stadium in Taif. Uzbekistan were one of two teams not to concede at all in the Qualifiers as they sealed an 11th appearance, while the Thais are involved for a 13th time.
 
In the evening at 8.15pm, Saudi Arabia will begin their quest for a third crown in their 12th outing. The hosts lifted the trophy in 1985 and 1988, with the latter followed by a stunning success at the FIFA U-16 World Championship a year later – to date, Saudi Arabia remain the only Asian team to win a FIFA men’s national team tournament. They go up against fellow two-time winners China PR (1992, 2004), who are making their sixth appearance, at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif.
 
Semi-finalists on three occasions, Australia are targeting a breakthrough to the Final on their eighth involvement, which starts on April 4 in Group B. The Joeys will take to the Okaz Stadium pitch at 6pm against Vietnam, who are making their ninth appearance and hoping to eclipse their best ever placing of fourth from 2000.
 
The only side to win consecutive titles, Japan have the opportunity to make it three in a row as they gear up for their record 17th participation that begins at 8.15pm. Unbeaten in their last 12 matches in the tournament, the East Asians will square off against 1990 runners-up United Arab Emirates – marking their eighth appearance and first since 2016 – at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
 
Group C also gets going on the same evening and opens with two-time champions Korea Republic (1986, 2002) playing their 70th match in tournament history at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. The 2023 runners-up’ 16th appearance has them facing Indonesia at 6pm, with the Southeast Asians looking forward to their seventh showing and first since 2018.
 
A memorable 2002 campaign saw Yemen finish second and they will hope to emulate that in their seventh involvement and fourth in a row. Their first opponents are Afghanistan, making only their third appearance and aiming to progress from the Group Stage for the first time, with kick-off at 8.15pm in Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium.
 
The first matchday concludes on April 5, which features two Group D showdowns. Having found the back of the net 38 times in three matches to finish as the Qualifiers’ top-scoring side, Tajikistan will aim to keep the goals flowing at their fifth participation. The 2018 runners-up will be challenged by Oman at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium at 6pm, with the two-time champions (1996, 2000) returning to the tournament for an 11th involvement and first since 2018.
 
DPR Korea also last took part in 2018 and have returned for a 12th occasion, as well as a shot at claiming a third title after triumphing in 2010 and 2014. They will lock horns with the Islamic Republic of Iran at 8.15pm at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, as the 2008 winners set their sights on lifting the trophy again on their 13th appearance.