We have never come this close to qualifying for the World Championship

Tomorrow, April 3, the next U-17 Asian Championship will kick off. This continental tournament among youth will take place in Saudi Arabia from April 3 to 20. The decision to host the competition in Saudi Arabia was officially announced by the AFC on May 24, 2024.

This will be a special anniversary tournament. The U-17 Asian Championship is being held for the 20th time. Traditionally, 16 teams participate in the tournament, divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. Below, we will provide the groups and the starting times of the matches in Tashkent time.

Group A - Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, China.

April 3. 20:00. Uzbekistan - Thailand
April 3. 22:15. Saudi Arabia - China

April 6. 20:00. China - Uzbekistan
April 6. 22:15. Thailand - Saudi Arabia

April 9. 22:15. Thailand - China
April 9. 22:15. Saudi Arabia - Uzbekistan

Group B - Japan, Australia, Vietnam, UAE.

April 4. 20:00. Australia - Vietnam
April 4. 22:15. Japan - UAE

April 7. 20:00. Vietnam - Japan
April 7. 22:15. UAE - Australia

April 10. 20:00. Japan - Australia
April 10. 20:00. Vietnam - UAE

Group C - South Korea, Yemen, Afghanistan, Indonesia.

April 4. 20:00. South Korea - Indonesia
April 4. 22:15. Yemen - Afghanistan

April 7. 20:00. Indonesia - Yemen
April 7. 22:15. Afghanistan - South Korea

April 10. 22:15. South Korea - Yemen
April 10. 22:15. Afghanistan - Indonesia

Group D - Iran, Tajikistan, Oman, North Korea.

April 5. 20:00. Tajikistan - Oman
April 5. 22:15. Iran - North Korea

April 8. 20:00. North Korea - Tajikistan
April 8. 22:15. Oman - Iran

April 11. 22:15. Oman - North Korea
April 11. 22:15. Iran - Tajikistan

The Uzbekistan U-17 national team, led by Islam Ismoilov, will play the group matches in Taif. The first two matches will take place at the "Okaz" stadium, while the final group match against Saudi Arabia will be held at the "King Fahd" stadium.

The starting times of the matches are somewhat inconvenient for us. The first two matches will start at 18:00 local time. Only the match against the host Saudi Arabia will start at 20:15. Nevertheless, we expect our young players to be patient and fight until the end.

For the first time in history, 8 teams in the World Championship!

Yes, that's right. FIFA has decided to increase the number of participants in the U-17 World Championship and hold the tournament every year. For example, in previous years, Asia was given four slots, but now there are eight slots. This means that all 8 teams that advance from the group will also qualify for the World Cup.

The U-17 World Championship will be held only in Qatar from 2025 to 2030. The first tournament in the new format will take place from November 3 to 27 this year. Now, 48 teams will participate in this age group World Cup.

If we advance from the group, we will play the quarter-final match on April 13 against one of the teams from Group B. Group B consists of Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and UAE competing against each other. The semi-final matches will be held on April 17, and the decisive final match of the tournament will take place on April 20. Another piece of information is that there will be no match for third place.

The easiest tournament for us

We have never been this close to qualifying for the World Championship in the U-17 Asian Championships. In previous tournaments, we would only qualify for the World Cup if we advanced from the group and made it to the quarter-finals. Now everything has become easier. Just advance from the group and secure a World Cup spot.

However, this does not mean that advancing from the group has become easy. Our opponents will also try to take advantage of the favorable opportunity. Of course, Saudi Arabia appears as the group favorite. We must also not forget about Thailand and China.

Who is in our squad?

Below is the squad of the Uzbekistan U-17 national team participating in the U-17 Asian Championship. Head coach Islam Ismoilov has selected 23 players for this tournament.

№1 Ibrohim Shokirov 18.03.2008 (goalkeeper, "Pakhtakor")
№2 Hojiakbar Botiraliyev 02.01.2008 (defender, "Navbahor")
№3 Muhammad Hakimov 04.10.2009 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№4 Mo‘minxon Bahodirxonov 30.03.2008 (defender, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№5 Amirxon Muradov 15.06.2008 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№6 Miraziz Abdukarimov 11.05.2008 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№7 Sadriddin Hasanov 21.05.2008 (midfielder, "Bunyodkor")
№8 Akbar Muhammadov 30.05.2008 (midfielder, "Pakhtakor")
№9 Nurbek Sarsenbayev 27.09.2008 (forward, "Jayxun")
№10 Muhammad Habibullayev 29.01.2008 (midfielder, "Lokomotiv")
№11 Sayfiddin Sodiqov 27.06.2008 (midfielder, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№12 Bahodir Izboskanov 22.07.2008 (goalkeeper, "Bunyodkor")
№13 Abdulloh Fazliddinov 21.01.2008 (defender, OKMK)
№14 Behruz Saidmurodov 09.02.2008 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№15 Muhammadali Musoxonov 18.12.2008 (defender, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№16 Azizbek Abdumo‘minov 04.11.2008 (midfielder, "Mash’al")
№17 Jamshidbek Rustamov 26.03.2008 (midfielder, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№18 Abubakir Shukurullayev 02.02.2008 (midfielder, "Pakhtakor")
№19 Azizbek Erimbetov 04.04.2008 (midfielder, "Jayxun")
№20 Asilbek Aliyev 01.01.2009 (forward, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№21 Ne’matulloh Rustamjonov 17.03.2008 (goalkeeper, Odil Ahmedov FA)
№22 Faridjon Abdullayev 13.08.2008 (midfielder, Tashkent FA)
№23 Dilyorbek Mahmudjonov 03.12.2008 (defender, "Andijon")

We wish our youth good luck in the upcoming Asian Championship. May they return as champions, just like in 2012.