Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: With the latest edition of the AFC U23 Championship set to begin on Tuesday, football fans across Asia are once again looking forward to seeing the region’s finest young talent lock horns en route to continental glory.
In total, 16 teams will be vying to claim the title won by Japan two years ago in Qatar, and with the likes of Iraqi ace Hussain Ali and host nation livewire Wei Shihao set to grace the competition, expectation is high that the tournament will further enhance its already burgeoning reputation.
This month’s action in Jiangsu province – which will conclude with the competition’s final on January 27 – gets underway at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center when head coach Massimiliano Maddaloni’s talented China PR side tackle Oman and Qatar play Uzbekistan in the day’s later game.
Reigning champions Japan are scheduled to begin their title defence against competition debutants Palestine on Wednesday.
The Teams (top two sides qualify for the quarter-finals)
Group A: CHINA, OMAN, QATAR, UZBEKISTAN
Group B: JAPAN, DPR KOREA, THAILAND, PALESTINE
Group C: IRAQ, JORDAN, SAUDI ARABIA, MALAYSIA
Group D: KOREA REPUBLIC, AUSTRALIA, SYRIA, VIETNAM
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: With 2018 now upon us, the Asian Football Confederation is just over a week away from its first tournament of the year as the AFC U23 Championship in China begins on January 9, ahead of which we look at the 16 competing teams, starting with Group A.
China PR
Best finish: Group stage (2014, 2016)
How they qualified: As hosts
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jiangyin: Only seven days remain until the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 kicks off and the-AFC.com continues its profile of the 16 teams with the four sides in Group B, where defending champions Japan are among the contenders.
Japan
Best finish: Champions (2016)
How they qualified: Runners-up – Group J
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changshu: The countdown to the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 continues as the-AFC.com profiles the four participating teams in Group C, where inaugural winners Iraq are placed alongside Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Iraq
Best finish: Champions (2014)
How they qualified: Winners – Group B
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kunshan: As the AFC U23 Championship China 2018 edges ever closer, the-AFC.com rounds off its profiles of the 16 teams gunning for continental glory by taking a closer look at the four sides in Group D.
Korea Republic
Best finish: Runners-up (2016)
How they qualified: Winners – Group I
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: The AFC U23 Championship China 2018 kick-off is just days away and, as the best young talent from across the continent gather in China for this year’s competition, we take a look at five players likely to make a significant impact.
Wei Shihao (China PR)
After securing an increased amount of game time with Shanghai SIPG towards the end of the 2017 Chinese Super League season, Wei Shihao made a name for himself in Japan in December at the East Asian Championship when, in his first game for the senior national team, he scored against Korea Republic.
The pacey left sided attacker, who spent two seasons with Portuguese side Leixoes, was on target again in his side’s draw with DPR Korea as he highlighted his potential importance to the national team and showed impressive form ahead of China’s hosting of the AFC U23 Championship.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the 2018 AFC U23 Championship a little over a fortnight away, join the-AFC.com as we look back at five great games from the previous two editions.
Japan 3-3 IR Iran (2014 Group Stage)