Stage set for #U17WAC showdown at Indonesia 2024
https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc ... _2024.html
Kuala Lumpur: Almost five years after it was last held, the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ will make its highly anticipated return next Monday as eight contenders begin their quest for glory at the ninth edition.
Scheduled to run from May 6 to 19, the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024 will take place in idyllic Bali as the Southeast Asian country stages the tournament for the first time.
Automatically qualified as hosts, Indonesia are joined by the three highest-seeded sides from the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 – defending champions Japan, DPR Korea and China PR – and four more sides that navigated two qualifying rounds: Australia, Korea Republic, Thailand and the Philippines.
The top three finishers will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2024, which kicks off on October 16 in the Dominican Republic.
China PR, Japan, Korea Republic and Thailand are the only four teams to qualify for all nine iterations of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ to date, while all three former winners – DPR Korea, Japan and Korea Republic – are eyeing a repeat triumph. Meanwhile, the Philippines will make their debut.
With a joint-record two World Cup crowns (2008, 2016) to their name, DPR Korea are amongst the world’s best in this age category. The only team to reach the Final in each of their participations, an eighth consecutive appearance is on the cards and the three-time champions (2007, 2015, 2017) have the opportunity to hold both the U17 and U20 titles at the same time for a second occasion after 2007, having won the latter competition in March in Uzbekistan.
Korea Republic’s sole triumph came in 2009 when they saw off DPR Korea – their only win in six previous tournament meetings, of which they have lost four. The Taegeuk Girls, who went on to seal the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, qualified for this edition in style by scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest enroute to winning all five matches.
A Southeast Asian showdown is on the cards at 7pm in the second Group A match as Indonesia face the Philippines at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium. The home side will be out to impress on their return 19 years after their debut in the inaugural edition in 2005, as they look to claim their first ever point. Meanwhile, the Philippines produced a stellar qualifying campaign to earn a historic berth and they will become the 21st different team to play at the Finals when they run out on to the pitch.
The action continues the following day on May 7 when the two Group B matches get underway, with the first at 4pm between China PR and Australia at the Bali United Training Center.
China PR have reached the last four in seven of their previous eight participations, with their best result coming in 2005 as runners-up. They finished third in 2019 for the fourth time in history by defeating Australia and will aim to make it four wins in six encounters in Bali. Meanwhile, the Junior Matildas are making their seventh appearance at the Finals and the two-time fourth-place finishers (2009, 2019) were the other team – along with Korea Republic – to sail through qualification with a perfect record of five wins.
The only side that has never finished outside the top three at every edition, Japan kick off their title defence at 7pm when they welcome Thailand’s challenge at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium. World champions in 2014, the Little Nadeshiko have lifted this trophy on a record four occasions and defeated the Thais in all five previous tournament meetings. A fourth Knockout Stage appearance will be the aim for the latter, who finished third once (2005) and fourth twice (2013, 2015).
Having qualified for every FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup to date, Japan are targeting an eighth consecutive involvement while China PR (2010, 2022), DPR Korea (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018) and Korea Republic (2008, 2010, 2018) are hoping to seal a return to the global showcase.
All timings indicated are in local time.
Match schedule:
https://assets.the-afc.com/2024_AFC_U17 ... hedule.pdf
