07-08-2025
Oman U17s grouped with Afghanistan, Syria, Nepal and Myanmar
MUSCAT: The Oman Under-17 football team was clubbed with Afghanistan, Syria, Nepal and hosts Myanmar in Group G of AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Saudi Arabia 2026. The draw of the Asian qualifying event in its 21st edition was organised by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Thursday at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The highly anticipated qualifiers for the 21st edition of the continental tournament will run from November 22 to 30, 2025, and will be contested in a single round-robin by centralised format. A total of 38 teams have been divided into seven groups, with three groups comprising six teams and four groups including five teams.
All group winners will progress to the 21st edition of the Finals, where they will join the nine AFC representatives from the Fifa U17 World Cup Qatar 2025 who have automatically qualified including: Qatar, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Group A featured China, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka while Group B comprised 2002 runners-up Yemen, Laos, hosts Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Guam and Pakistan. The Group C will see hosts Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Northern Mariana Islands and Macau while 2008 champions Iran will take on hosts India, Palestine, Chinese Taipei and Lebanon in Group D.
Oman were crowned champions twice in the past.
Australia will headline Group E, with 2016 winners Iraq, Philippines, Jordan as hosts and Bhutan while hosts Thailand will vie for a slot in Group F as they meet Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Maldives. Two-time champions Oman will compete against Afghanistan, Myanmar (hosts), Syria and Nepal in Group G.
Oman, crowned champions twice in the past, will be looking to secure their place in the finals for what would be their 12th appearance in the tournament's history. Their debut came in 1994, where they captured third place after a 3-2 victory over Bahrain.
Draw Result
Group A: China (H), Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka
Group B: Yemen, Laos, Kyrgyz Republic (H), Cambodia, Guam, Pakistan
Group C: Vietnam (H), Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Northern Mariana Islands, Macau
Group D: Iran, India (H), Palestine, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon
Group E: Australia, Iraq, Philippines, Jordan (H), Bhutan
Group F: Thailand (H), Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Maldives
Group G: Oman, Afghanistan, Myanmar (H), Syria, Nepal
