China's Shuai Weihao (center) competes during the semifinal match against Australia at the AFC U17 Asian Cup on May 19, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

China's under-17 men's football team reached the final of the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the first time in 22 years after a 2-0 victory over Australia on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.

China will face Japan in the final match on Friday. In the other semifinal match on Tuesday, Japan defeated Uzbekistan 3-2 in a penalty shootout. The two sides finished regular time with a 1-1 stalemate. 

Looking to the final match against Japan, captain Zhou Yunuo told CCTV News after the game that they need to maintain confidence. 

"Japan is very strong in possession, both in terms of individual quality and overall team strength. However, if we can bring the confidence we showed in this semifinal match and in the previous game against Saudi Arabia, I think we can compete with them," said Zhou.

The young team displayed defensive discipline in keeping a clean sheet in the high-pressure game against Australia, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

Like in the quarterfinal match against Saudi Arabia, China adopted a strategy of conceding possession and focusing on efficiency. They limited the opponent's attacking space in key areas and used counterattacks to trouble the opposition, Liu said. 

In the group stage of the tournament, China fell short of group winners Japan 1-2 on May 10. After two defeats, China rallied to see off Qatar to advance to the knockout rounds. 

Instead of dropping too deep too early, China will need compact spacing and coordinated stepping out to press in moments, preventing Japan from comfortably settling into their rhythm, Liu said.

Against possession-based sides like Japan, set pieces could serve as a major weapon. The teenagers have built up confidence from their quarterfinal and semifinal wins. The final will test mentality more than tactics, he noted.

Reaching the final for the first time since the 2004 AFC U17 tournament has provided a timely boost for Chinese football and sparked discussions on Chinese social media. 

Recent appearances by China's youth football teams in U-series finals can be seen as a positive signal of a potential turning point, reflecting the results of years of investment in youth football development. It suggests that the talent pipeline and competitive level at the junior stages are gradually improving. Hopefully, this progress will continue, and the overall standard of Chinese football will keep rising in the future, said one Sina Weibo user on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, China started the game well and created several opportunities in the first half through corners. In the 49th minute, Shuai Weihao opened the scoring for China after Zhou won possession in the front court and sent him through into the box.

Substitute Xie Jin sealed the victory for China in the 91st minute when he pounced on a loose ball to slot home from close range following a free kick. 

Earlier, China advanced to the semifinals by defeating host Saudi Arabia 3-1 in the quarterfinals on May 15.

The Chinese U17 team secured its U17 World Cup berth by reaching the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup. It marked the return of a Chinese men's football team to a global tournament for the first time since 2005.

The U17 World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 14, 2026.

The last time a Chinese men's national football team at any age level won a continental title was at the 2004 AFC U17 Championship, when China defeated North Korea 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy in Japan.