2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup
Updated: 12/11/2025, 8:11:20 AM Wikipedia source
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. On 24 May 2024, the AFC announced that China would host the tournament. 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.
Infobox
Host country
China
Dates
12 February – 1 March
Teams
16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue
4 (in 1 host city)
Champions
Australia (1st title)
Runners-up
Saudi Arabia
Matches played
31
Goals scored
93 (3 per match)
Attendance
44,626 (1,440 per match)
Top scorer(s)
Kim Tae-won Mukhammadali Urinboev(4 goals each)
Best player
Alexander Badolato
Best goalkeeper
Hamed Al-Shanqiti
Fair play award
Australia
Tables
· Qualification › Qualified teams
China
China
Team
China
Qualified as
Hosts
Appearance
20th
Previous best performance
Champions (1985)
Syria
Syria
Team
Syria
Qualified as
Group A winners
Appearance
12th
Previous best performance
Champions (1994)
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Team
Uzbekistan
Qualified as
Group B winners
Appearance
9th
Previous best performance
Champions (2023)
South Korea
South Korea
Team
South Korea
Qualified as
Group C winners
Appearance
40th
Previous best performance
Champions (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Team
Saudi Arabia
Qualified as
Group D winners
Appearance
15th
Previous best performance
Champions (1986, 1992, 2018)
North Korea
North Korea
Team
North Korea
Qualified as
Group E winners
Appearance
14th
Previous best performance
Champions (1976, 2006, 2010)
Indonesia
Indonesia
Team
Indonesia
Qualified as
Group F winners
Appearance
20th
Previous best performance
Champions (1961)
Iran
Iran
Team
Iran
Qualified as
Group G winners
Appearance
22nd
Previous best performance
Champions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
Iraq
Iraq
Team
Iraq
Qualified as
Group H winners
Appearance
19th
Previous best performance
Champions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000)
Japan
Japan
Team
Japan
Qualified as
Group I winners
Appearance
39th
Previous best performance
Champions (2016)
Qatar
Qatar
Team
Qatar
Qualified as
Group J winners
Appearance
16th
Previous best performance
Champions (2014)
Yemen
Yemen
Team
Yemen
Qualified as
1st best runners-up
Appearance
8th
Previous best performance
Quarter-finals (1975)
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Qualified as
2nd best runners-up
Appearance
3rd
Previous best performance
Group stage (2006, 2023)
Australia
Australia
Team
Australia
Qualified as
3rd best runners-up
Appearance
9th
Previous best performance
Runners-up (2010)
Thailand
Thailand
Team
Thailand
Qualified as
4th best runners-up
Appearance
34th
Previous best performance
Champions (1962, 1969)
Jordan
Jordan
Team
Jordan
Qualified as
5th best runners-up
Appearance
9th
Previous best performance
Fourth place (2006)
| Team | Qualified as | Appearance | Previous best performance |
| China | Hosts | 20th | Champions (1985) |
| Syria | Group A winners | 12th | Champions (1994) |
| Uzbekistan | Group B winners | 9th | Champions (2023) |
| South Korea | Group C winners | 40th | Champions (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012) |
| Saudi Arabia | Group D winners | 15th | Champions (1986, 1992, 2018) |
| North Korea | Group E winners | 14th | Champions (1976, 2006, 2010) |
| Indonesia | Group F winners | 20th | Champions (1961) |
| Iran | Group G winners | 22nd | Champions (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) |
| Iraq | Group H winners | 19th | Champions (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000) |
| Japan | Group I winners | 39th | Champions (2016) |
| Qatar | Group J winners | 16th | Champions (2014) |
| Yemen | 1st best runners-up | 8th | Quarter-finals (1975) |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2nd best runners-up | 3rd | Group stage (2006, 2023) |
| Australia | 3rd best runners-up | 9th | Runners-up (2010) |
| Thailand | 4th best runners-up | 34th | Champions (1962, 1969) |
| Jordan | 5th best runners-up | 9th | Fourth place (2006) |
· Venues
Bao'an
Bao'an
Shenzhen
Bao'an
Shenzhen
Guangming
Shenzhen
Longhua
Bao'an Stadium
Bao'an Stadium
Shenzhen
Bao'an Stadium
Shenzhen
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium
Shenzhen
Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1
Shenzhen
Longhua Cultural and Sports Center
Capacity: 40,000
Capacity: 40,000
Shenzhen
Capacity: 40,000
Shenzhen
Capacity: 10,000
Shenzhen
Capacity: 500
Shenzhen
Capacity: 2,364
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| Shenzhen | |||
| Bao'an | Guangming | Longhua | |
| Bao'an Stadium | Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium | Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch No.1 | Longhua Cultural and Sports Center |
| Capacity: 40,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 500 | Capacity: 2,364 |
| | |||
| html.skin-theme-clientpref-os od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os od > }Shenzhen | |||
· Draw
China (hosts) Uzbekistan Iraq Japan
China (hosts) Uzbekistan Iraq Japan
Pot 1
China (hosts) Uzbekistan Iraq Japan
Pot 2
South Korea Australia Iran Jordan
Pot 3
Indonesia Saudi Arabia Syria Kyrgyzstan
Pot 4
Qatar Thailand Yemen North Korea
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| China (hosts) Uzbekistan Iraq Japan | South Korea Australia Iran Jordan | Indonesia Saudi Arabia Syria Kyrgyzstan | Qatar Thailand Yemen North Korea |
· Group stage › Group A
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Australia
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
10
GA
3
GD
+7
Pts
9
Qualification
Knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
China (H)
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
8
GA
5
GD
+3
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Qatar
Pld
3
W
1
D
0
L
2
GF
6
GA
5
GD
+1
Pts
3
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Pld
3
W
0
D
0
L
3
GF
3
GA
14
GD
−11
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | China (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Qatar | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Kyrgyzstan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 0 |
· Group stage › Group B
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Saudi Arabia
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
3
GA
2
GD
+1
Pts
6
Qualification
Knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Iraq
Pld
3
W
1
D
2
L
0
GF
2
GA
1
GD
+1
Pts
5
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Jordan
Pld
3
W
1
D
1
L
1
GF
2
GA
2
GD
0
Pts
4
4
4
Pos
4
Team
North Korea
Pld
3
W
0
D
1
L
2
GF
3
GA
5
GD
−2
Pts
1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Iraq | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Jordan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | North Korea | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 |
· Group stage › Group C
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Iran
Pld
3
W
3
D
0
L
0
GF
11
GA
1
GD
+10
Pts
9
Qualification
Knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Uzbekistan
Pld
3
W
2
D
0
L
1
GF
5
GA
3
GD
+2
Pts
6
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Indonesia
Pld
3
W
0
D
1
L
2
GF
1
GA
6
GD
−5
Pts
1
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Yemen
Pld
3
W
0
D
1
L
2
GF
0
GA
7
GD
−7
Pts
1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iran | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Indonesia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 | |
| 4 | Yemen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 1 |
· Group stage › Group D
1
1
Pos
1
Team
South Korea
Pld
3
W
2
D
1
L
0
GF
7
GA
3
GD
+4
Pts
7
Qualification
Knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Japan
Pld
3
W
1
D
2
L
0
GF
6
GA
3
GD
+3
Pts
5
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Syria
Pld
3
W
0
D
2
L
1
GF
5
GA
6
GD
−1
Pts
2
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Thailand
Pld
3
W
0
D
1
L
2
GF
3
GA
9
GD
−6
Pts
1
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 5 | |
| 3 | Syria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Thailand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 1 |
· Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 World Cup
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Team
Saudi Arabia
Qualified on
22 February 2025
Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
9 (1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2017, 2019)
Australia
Australia
Team
Australia
Qualified on
22 February 2025
Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
15 (1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013)
Japan
Japan
Team
Japan
Qualified on
23 February 2025
Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
11 (1979, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2017, 2019, 2023)
South Korea
South Korea
Team
South Korea
Qualified on
23 February 2025
Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1
16 (1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023)
| Team | Qualified on | Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 22 February 2025 | 9 (1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2017, 2019) |
| Australia | 22 February 2025 | 15 (1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013) |
| Japan | 23 February 2025 | 11 (1979, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
| South Korea | 23 February 2025 | 16 (1979, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2023) |
References
- the-AFC.comhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/cfed/news/pivotal_reforms_approved_by_afc_competitions_committee.html
- the-AFC.comhttps://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/calendars/AFC-Calendar-(Jul-2024-Jun-2025)-upd-15Jan2025.pdf
- Dongqiudihttps://dongqiudi.com/article/4665291.html
- the-AFC.comhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_asian_cup.html/news/afcu20-s-finals-5-things-to-look-out-for
- the-AFC.comhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_asian_cup.html/news/afcu20-draw-to-unveil-china-2025-showdowns
- the-AFC.comhttps://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U20-Asian-Cup%E2%84%A2-2025-Competition-Regulations.pdf