The Saudi Arabian U-17 national team began their 2025 AFC U-17 Championship qualifying campaign with a perfect start, securing a resounding and well-deserved 4-0 victory over Myanmar. The match was held at the King Abdullah Sports City auxiliary stadium in Jeddah, as part of the first round of Group A in the qualifiers being hosted by the Kingdom.
The young Saudi team dominated the match from the opening whistle, translating their superiority into an early goal by star player Ali Al-Makki in the third minute, giving his teammates a significant morale boost. Al-Makki then confirmed his star status by adding a second goal for himself and his team in the 23rd minute, ending the first half with a comfortable 2-0 lead for Saudi Arabia.
In the second half, the Saudi team continued its offensive pressure and succeeded in adding the third goal through player Fares Boushagra from a penalty kick in the 59th minute. Before the end of the match, Abdullah Al-Dosari concluded the goal fest by scoring the fourth goal in the 74th minute, confirming the high technical and physical readiness of the Green players.
General context and importance of the championship
These qualifiers are of paramount importance as they serve as the path to the AFC U-17 Championship, which in turn is the continental tournament that qualifies for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Saudi national team aspires to replicate its historical achievements in this age group, as the "Green Falcons" boast a distinguished history, most notably their victory in the 1989 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Scotland—an achievement unmatched by any other Arab or Asian team to date. The team has also previously won the AFC U-17 Championship twice, in 1985 and 1988.
The impact of winning and topping the group
This resounding victory not only secures three valuable points for the Saudi national team but also places them at the top of Group A, ahead of Tajikistan on goal difference, after Tajikistan's 2-0 win against Thailand in the other group match. This victory boosts the confidence of the players and the coaching staff, led by the national coach, and provides them with a strong incentive to continue their journey with the same fighting spirit and outstanding performance in upcoming matches. Domestically, this promising generation represents hope for the future of Saudi football and reflects the success of the development plans implemented by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to nurture and refine young talent for the future.
In other matches played as part of the qualifiers, Group B saw Japan defeat Qatar 3-1, while Indonesia beat China 1-0, leaving Japan at the top of the group on goal difference.
