On May 11, Beijing time, the U17 Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals concluded with China beating India 3-0 and Korea DPR routing Thailand 6-0. The semi-final lineup and World Cup tickets are now confirmed: China will face Korea DPR, while Japan takes on Australia. India, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea have been eliminated from the tournament.
This edition of the U17 Women’s Asian Cup features 12 teams, with the top four earning a spot at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. China’s clear goal was to reach at least the semi-finals and secure a return to the global stage. As hosts, China enjoyed a favorable draw, avoiding powerhouses like Japan, Korea DPR, Australia, and South Korea in the group stage. Grouped with Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar, China’s path looked promising from the start.
In the group stage, China was untroubled, winning all three matches: 6-0 against Myanmar, 3-0 against Vietnam, and 6-0 against Thailand. Across those games, China scored 15 goals and conceded none, showcasing flawless performances on both ends. They advanced as group winners to the knockout stage. In the quarter-final against India, the Group B third-place finisher, China dominated from the start. Liu Yuxi set up Huang Qinyi for the opener in the 38th minute, then converted a penalty just before halftime to make it 2-0. In the second half, China controlled possession and denied India any clear chances. Li Qixian added a late third goal to seal a 3-0 victory.
With four consecutive wins and a perfect defensive record, China booked their place in the semi-finals and secured a World Cup berth. Next, they face a tough test against defending champions Korea DPR, who cruised past Thailand 6-0 in their quarter-final.
In the earlier quarter-finals, Japan narrowly avoided an upset, edging South Korea 1-0 thanks to a free-kick goal from Raku Higuchi. Australia defeated Vietnam 2-0 to reach the last four. Australia suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Japan in the group stage, so their semi-final rematch offers a chance for redemption.