Players of China celebrates the victory after the AFC U23 Asian Cup semi final match between Vietnam and China at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium on January 20, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo:VCG

The AFC U23 Asian Cup final is set to kick off on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With China's team reaching the final, enthusiasm among Chinese fans continues to surge, with multiple social media platforms showing that many are planning or are in the process of traveling to Saudi Arabia to cheer their team on site.

The Chinese Consulate General in Jeddah told the Global Times on Thursday that the Chinese team's historic advancement to the final of the U23 Asian Cup has drawn widespread attention from Chinese fans at home and abroad, and the number of spectators is expected to far exceed that of any previous match.

"The Consulate General in Jeddah attaches great importance to this event and has formulated a special plan for consular protection and emergency response, covering media monitoring, on-site guidance and emergency preparedness," an official from the Consulate General said.

"Chinese community organizations, Chinese enterprises in the consular district, and consular protection volunteers are also taking active measures, providing full support and coordination to ensure services for Chinese fans on site," the official noted. 

"We call on all fans to watch the game in a civilized, orderly and safe manner, creating a good environment for the Chinese team to focus on preparation and secure victory against their opponents."

To show appreciation for Chinese fans, the Asia Football Confederation and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation previously distributed a limited number of tickets through local Chinese community organizations to overseas Chinese residents in Saudi Arabia, staff of Chinese companies and Chinese students, according to the Chinese Consulate General in Jeddah.

At the same time, the consulate reminded fans that online claims such as "Chinese nationals enter free" or "just hold a Chinese passport to attend" are false. Fans are urged to purchase tickets through official channels, plan their trips in advance, and watch the match in a civilized and orderly manner.

The official ticketing platform for the final is WeBook. The match will be held at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, which can accommodate around 27,000 spectators. Currently, the East Stand is open for ticket sales, with two price tiers: standard tickets at 15 Saudi riyals ($4) and premium tickets at 75 riyals.

The ticketing platform noted that the majority of available seats are in the 15-riyal section, while the 75-riyal section (designated for Chinese fans) appears fully booked. This indicates a strong demand for on-site attendance. When purchasing, registered users must first select the team they support before choosing seats and completing payment in the designated section.

Lao, one Chinese fan from Guangdong Province, had already booked his flight and secured a ticket for the final just hours after China's U23 national team defeated Vietnam 3-0 in Jeddah in the semifinals, setting up a championship showdown against Japan. Sharing his plans on social media, he wrote, "Plans have changed - I'm heading to Saudi Arabia!"

"It will all be worth it. I went to South Korea before to watch a World Cup qualifier, where our team lost 0-1. Now the U23 team has reached the final, and I'm thrilled. I hope they can continue their miracle in Jeddah and defeat Japan," Lao told the Global Times on Thursday morning.

During the tournament, four young players, including goalkeeper Li Hao from the Qingdao West Coast Club, who has kept a clean sheet throughout the tournament, played an important role for the team. As an investor in the club, Xu Shang has been closely following their performance. "I will travel from Qingdao to the final to cheer for them in person," he said.

In addition, social media influencer He Sheng, known as "Refund Brother," will also head to the venue. On Thursday, he posted on Sina Weibo, "For fans coming from China who don't have tickets to watch the game, I will provide free tickets based on your flight information. The offer is valid until 10:00 am Saudi local time on January 24."