2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup

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2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup
2025年亚足联U-20亚洲杯
AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 logo.png
Tournament details
Host countryChina
Dates12 February – 1 March
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Tournament statistics
Matches played31
Goals scored93 (3 per match)
Attendance44,626 (1,440 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Tae-won
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Mukhammadali Urinboev
(4 goals each)
Best player(s) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alexander Badolato
Best goalkeeper Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hamed Al-Shanqiti
Fair play awardFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2023
2027

The 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup was the 42nd edition of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup (including previous editions of the AFC Youth Championship and AFC U-19 Championship), the biennial international youth football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-20 national teams of Asia.

Contents

On 24 May 2024, the AFC announced that China would host the tournament. [1]

A total of 16 teams played in the tournament. The top four teams qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile as the AFC representatives.

Uzbekistan were the title holders, having won the title in 2023. They were eliminated on penalties by South Korea in the quarter-finals. Australia clinched their first major youth title since joining the AFC, overcoming three-time winners Saudi Arabia on penalties.

Qualification

Qualification matches were played between 21 and 29 September 2024. [2]

Qualified teams

A total of 16 teams, including hosts China, qualified for the final tournament.

TeamQualified asAppearancePrevious best performance
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Hosts20thChampions (1985)
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria Group A winners12thChampions (1994)
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Group B winners9thChampions (2023)
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Group C winners40thChampions (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012)
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Group D winners15thChampions (1986, 1992, 2018)
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Group E winners14thChampions (1976, 2006, 2010)
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Group F winners20thChampions (1961)
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Group G winners22ndChampions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Group H winners19thChampions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000)
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Group I winners39thChampions (2016)
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Group J winners16thChampions (2014)
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 1st best runners-up 8thQuarter-finals (1975)
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 2nd best runners-up 3rdGroup stage (2006, 2023)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3rd best runners-up 9thRunners-up (2010)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 4th best runners-up 34thChampions (1962, 1969)
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 5th best runners-up 9thFourth place (2006)

Venues

The competition was held in four venues around Shenzhen. [3]

Shenzhen
Bao'an Guangming Longhua
Bao'an Stadium Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre StadiumShenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1 Longhua Cultural and Sports Center
Capacity: 40,000Capacity: 10,000Capacity: 500Capacity: 2,364
Bao An Ti Yu Chang Bao`an Stadium - panoramio (1).jpg

Match officials

The tournament implemented video assistant referees (VAR), a first in the tournament's history, starting from the semi-finals onwards. [4]

Referees
Assistant referees

Draw

The draw of the final tournament was held on 7 November 2024 in Shenzhen, China. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups of four teams, with the teams seeded according to their performance in the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup final tournament and qualification, with the hosts China automatically seeded and assigned to Position A1 in the draw. [5]

Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4
  1. Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (hosts)
  2. Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan
  3. Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
  4. Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Squads

Players born on or after 1 January 2005 and on or before 31 December 2009 were eligible to compete in the tournament. Each team must register a squad of minimum 18 players and maximum 23 players, minimum three of whom must be goalkeepers.

Group stage

Tiebreakers

Teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tie-breaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings: [6]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  9. Drawing of lots.

All match times are in local time, (UTC+8)

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3300103+79 Knockout stage
2Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (H)320185+36
3Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 310265+13
4Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 3003314110
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg5–1Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 655
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (South Korea)
China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg2–1Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 5,152
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Qatar  Flag of Qatar.svg1–3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 1,072
Referee: Zaid Thamer Mohammed (Iraq)
Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg2–5Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 7,944
Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia)

China  Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg1–2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 8,743
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
Kyrgyzstan  Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg0–4Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 267
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 320132+16 Knockout stage
2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 312021+15
3Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 31112204
4Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 30123521
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–1Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
Report
Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, Shenzhen
Attendance: 266
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svg0–1Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 472
Referee: Ahmed Eisa Darwish (United Arab Emirates)

North Korea  Flag of North Korea.svg1–2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
Saudi Arabia  Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg0–1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 827
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg0–0Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, Shenzhen
Attendance: 310
Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan)
Saudi Arabia  Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg2–1Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 412
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 3300111+109 Knockout stage
2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 320153+26
3Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 30121651
4Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 30120771
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Uzbekistan  Flag of Uzbekistan.svg1–0Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 179
Referee: Shen Yinhao (China)
Iran  Flag of Iran.svg3–0Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 356
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svg0–6Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 225
Referee: Choi Hyun-jai (South Korea)
Indonesia  Flag of Indonesia.svg1–3Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 510
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)

Uzbekistan  Flag of Uzbekistan.svg1–2Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 252
Referee: Zaid Thamer Mohammed (Iraq)
Indonesia  Flag of Indonesia.svg0–0Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 236
Referee: Abdulhadi Al-Ruaile (Qatar)

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 321073+47 Knockout stage
2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 312063+35
3Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria 30215612
4Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 30123961
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
South Korea  Flag of South Korea.svg2–1Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria
Report
Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, Shenzhen
Attendance: 363
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg3–0Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 184
Referee: Abdulhadi Al-Ruaile (Qatar)

Syria  Flag of Syria (2025-).svg2–2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Report
Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, Shenzhen
Attendance: 468
Referee: Ahmed Eisa Darwish (United Arab Emirates)
Thailand  Flag of Thailand.svg1–4Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 165
Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan)

Japan  Flag of Japan.svg1–1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 310
Referee: Alex King (Australia)
Syria  Flag of Syria (2025-).svg2–2Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Report

Knockout stage

In the knockout stage, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
22 February
 
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
 
26 February
 
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2
 
23 February
 
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 0
 
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 1 (3)
 
1 March
 
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (p)1 (4)
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (p)1 (5)
 
22 February
 
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1 (4)
 
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1
 
26 February
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 0
 
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia (p)0 (3)
 
23 February
 
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 0 (2)
 
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (p)3 (3)
 
 
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 3 (1)
 

Quarter-finals

All four winners qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia  Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg1–0Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Report
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 6,058
Referee: Alex King (Australia)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 1,109
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg1–1 (a.e.t.)Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Report
Penalties
3–4
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 1,826
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)

South Korea  Flag of South Korea.svg3–3 (a.e.t.)Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan
Report
Penalties
3–1
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1, Shenzhen
Attendance: 259
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Semi-finals

Saudi Arabia  Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg0–0 (a.e.t.)Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Report
Penalties
3–2
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 408
Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev (Uzbekistan)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg2–0Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Report
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 1,363
Referee: Abdulhadi Al-Ruaile (Qatar)

Final

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg1–1 (a.e.t.)Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Agosti Soccerball shade.svg24' Report Haji Soccerball shade.svg45+2'
Penalties
5–4
Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Attendance: 3,355
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

Goalscorers

There were 93 goals scored in 31 matches, for an average of 3 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 World Cup

The following teams from AFC qualified for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

TeamQualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup 1
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 22 February 20259 (1985, 1987, 1989 , 1993, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2017, 2019)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 22 February 202515 ( 1981 , 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993 , 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013)
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 23 February 202511 ( 1979 , 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2017, 2019, 2023)
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 23 February 202516 (1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 , 2019, 2023)
1Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

See also

Notes

    References

    1. "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
    2. "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2024 - Jun 2025)" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
    3. "官方:2025年中国U20亚洲杯将在深圳举行". Dongqiudi (in Chinese). 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
    4. "#AFCU20 - S-finals: 5 things to look out for". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
    5. "#AFCU20 draw to unveil China 2025 showdowns". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 November 2024.
    6. "Competition Regulations AFC U-20 Asian Cup™ 2025" (PDF). the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2025.