We've never been this close to qualifying for the World Cup

The next U-17 Asian Championship will start tomorrow, April 3. This continental championship among juniors will be held in Saudi Arabia from April 3 to 20. The hosting of the competition by Saudi Arabia was officially announced by the AFC on May 24, 2024.

This will be a unique anniversary competition. This is because the U-17 Asian Championship is being organized for the 20th time. As usual, 16 teams participate in the tournament and the teams are divided into 4 groups of 4. Below are the groups and the start 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, DPRK.

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

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

April 11. 22:15. Oman - DPRK
April 11. 22:15. Iran - Tajikistan

The Uzbekistan U-17 team, led by Islam Ismailov, will hold its group matches in Taif. The first two matches will be held at the Okaz Stadium, while the final match against Saudi Arabia will be held at the King Fahd Stadium.

The start time of the matches is a bit inconvenient for us. The reason is that we will start the first two matches 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 at the World Cup!

Yes, that's right. FIFA has decided to increase the number of participants in the U-17 World Cup and hold the tournament every year. For example, in previous years, four places were awarded to Asia, but now 8 places have been awarded. This means that all 8 teams that qualify from the group will also receive a World Cup ticket.

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

If we qualify from the group, we will play a quarter-final match on April 13 against one of the teams from Group B. Group B will feature Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and the UAE. The semi-finals will be held on April 17, and the decisive final match of the tournament will be held on April 20. Another piece of information is that there will be no match for 3rd place.

The easiest tournament for us

We have never been so close to qualifying for the World Cup in the Asian U-17 Championship. In previous tournaments, we would only qualify for the World Cup if we got out of the group and made it to the quarterfinals. Now everything is even easier. Get out of the group and get a World Cup ticket.

But this does not mean that getting out of the group is easy. Because our opponents will also try to take advantage of the opportunity. Of course, Saudi Arabia is seen as the group favorite. We should also not forget Thailand and China.

Who is in our squad?

Below is the squad of the Uzbekistan U-17 team that will participate in the U-17 Asian Championship. Head coach Islam Ismailov has selected 23 players to participate in this tournament.

№1 Ibrahim Shokirov 18.03.2008 (goalkeeper, "Pakhtakor")
№2 Hojiakbar Botiraliev 02.01.2008 (defender, "Navbahor")
№3 Muhammad Hakimov 04.10.2009 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№4 Mominkhan Bahadirkhanov 30.03.2008 (defender, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№5 Amirkhan 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, "Cotton")
№9 Nurbek Sarsenbaev 27.09.2008 (striker, "Jayhun")
№10 Muhammad Habibullaev 29.01.2008 (midfielder, Lokomotiv)
№11 Sayfiddin Sadikov 27.06.2008 (midfielder, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№12 Bahadir Izboskanov 22.07.2008 (goalkeeper, "Bunyodkor")
№13 Abdullah Fazliddinov 21.01.2008 (defender, OKMK)
№14 Behruz Saidmurodov 09.02.2008 (defender, "Pakhtakor")
№15 Muhammadali Musokhonov 18.12.2008 (defender, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№16 Azizbek Abdumo'minov 04.11.2008 (midfielder, "Mashal")
№17 Jamshidbek Rustamov 26.03.2008 (midfielder, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№18 Abubakir Shukurullaev 02.02.2008 (midfielder, "Pakhtakor")
№19 Azizbek Erimbetov 04.04.2008 (midfielder, "Jayhun")
№20 Asilbek Aliev 01.01.2009 (forward, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№21 Nematullo Rustamjonov 17.03.2008 (goalkeeper, Odil Akhmedov FA)
№22 Faridjon Abdullaev 13.08.2008 (midfielder, Tashkent FA)
№23 Dilyorbek Mahmudjonov 03.12.2008 (defender, "Andijan")

Our youth team will be ready for the upcoming Asian Championship We wish you good luck. May our country return as champions, just like in 2012.

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