14-04-2025
Saudi Arabia into AFC U17 Asian Cup semis after reaching FIFA U17 World Cup
A statement penalty shootout victory over reigning champion Japan on Sunday saw Saudi Arabia's Under-17 side reach the semi-finals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup for the first time since the Kingdom last hosted the tournament in 1992.
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The young Green Falcons recovered from conceding an early goal to draw 2-2 after 90 minutes. Al Qadsiah defender Abu Bakr Saed scored from the penalty spot and there was a second goal of the tournament for Al Fayha winger Sabri Dahal too. With the match level after 90 minutes, it was left to a shootout to decide the outcome.
Although Al Hilal's Thari Saeed missed from 12 yards, Al Nassr goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi saved one Japanese effort, while two more attempts hit the woodwork. With three successfully converted spot-kicks, it was the Green Falcons that progressed – eliminating the reigning champion.
Saudi Arabia now faces either the winner of Monday's game between Tajikistan and South Korea in the semi-final – played again in Taif – on Thursday. Going into the game, the Green Falcons had already claimed what was arguably a more important prize – qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
It has been 36 long years since Saudi Arabia last competed in the global competition but the latest crop of young Green Falcons – led by Brazilian coach Mario Jorge – will have the opportunity to stand toe-to-toe with the world's best in November.
Reaching the FIFA U17 World Cup for the first time since 1989 is an achievement that should be celebrated, particularly against the backdrop of the Kingdom's successful bid to host the 2034 men's FIFA World Cup.
There is a hope among the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) and fans alike that many of the players currently representing the Saudi U17s team will grow into senior internationals and feature for the Green Falcons at the World Cup on home soil in nine years' time. The players will then be aged 24 and 25.
That end goal of the 2034 World Cup means that Saudi Arabia's youth teams are playing with extra pressure every time they take to the field but in the space of two months, two different groups have handled that expectation with aplomb – progressing through to the latter stages of their respective continental tournaments.
Last month the Under-19 team finished as runner-up in the AFC U19 Asian Cup in China and reached the FIFA U19 World Cup; now the Under-17s team has made it to the AFC U17 Asian Cup last four and also qualified for its age group World Cup.
There is hope now that the U17s could emulate the achievement of the U19s and make it all the way to the final of the U17 Asian Cup, which is being played in Taif and Jeddah.
The Green Falcons started their campaign with group stage victories over China (2-1) and Thailand (3-1), with goals across those games came from five different players representing five different Saudi Pro League club's academies.
Al Ittihad U19 forward Abdulhadi Matari netted the first goal of the tournament for Saudi Arabia, with further strikes coming from Osama al-Daghmah of Al Ahli, Sabri Dahal of Al Fayha, Al Hilal forward Mukhtar Barnawi and Al Nassr's Abdulrahman Sufyani.
The latter's progress is particularly gratifying, with Sufyani, who also provided a brilliant assist for team-mate Dahal in Sunday's quarter-final against Japan, having come through the Mahd Sports Academy.
Set up in 2020 to identify and develop young Saudi talent to compete at the elite level, the Mahd Sports Academy board includes José Mourinho, Ioan Lupescu, and Princess Reema bint Bandar, with Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Bin Faisal as the chairman.
After two games, Saudi Arabia was level on points with Uzbekistan, meaning the final match against the Central Asian nation would determine which nation would go through as Group A winner. A 3-0 loss provided a harsh reality check for the young Green Falcons, whose second-place group stage finish meant a more difficult quarter-final draw.
Japan, the record four-time AFC U17 Asian Cup winner and current reigning champion, was the toughest possible opponent. But a superb performance at the Okadh Sport Club Stadium in Taif saw Saudi Arabia defy its underdog status to progress.
Having either failed to qualify or failed to make it through the group stage of five AFC U17 Asian Cups between 2010 and 2018, the Green Falcons have now reached back-to-back quarter-finals and in the current tournament have gone further than any Saudi team since 1992.
Most pleasingly, Jorge can now take his side to neighboring Qatar for the FIFA U17 World Cup in November.
Saudi Arabia's last participation was way back in 1989, when a talented group of players went into the tournament in Scotland – then known as the FIFA U16 World Championship – in confident mood, having won the 1988 AFC U17 Asian Cup.
That Green Falcons side included future national team captain Fuad Anwar, who became the first Saudi to score at a FIFA World Cup in 1994. Alongside Anwar was goalkeeper Mohamed al-Deayea, who went on to become Saudi Arabia's record appearance maker with 178 international caps.
Despite a stacked field, Saudi Arabia was the 1989 tournament's surprise champion as it beat host Scotland in the final. Among the many highlights along the way was a 2-2 draw with a Portugal team led by future Ballon d'Or winner and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo.
Like the 1989 winners, Jorge's 2025 Saudi vintage is also set to be a major underdog when it competes at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. It will be one of eight Asian participants, alongside Japan, Uzbekistan, UAE, Indonesia, North Korea, Tajikistan and South Korea.
Although a repeat of the success of 36 years ago appears unlikely, the tournament will still represent another vital step in the development of this group – with the Kingdom's talented young players earning the opportunity to test themselves against the world's best.
For now, there is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to prove it is the continent's best – something the Kingdom last achieved with that golden generation in 1988. Going into Thursday's semi-final, the young Green Falcons stand on the cusp of history again.
