Vietnam are the only Southeast Asian representative at this edition and will be making their FIFA U17 World Cup debut, while all of their Group G opponents bring significantly greater experience at this level.

Vietnam players sing the national anthem before their 1-0 victory over Yemen at the 2026 U17 Asian Cup in King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2026.

Mali national football team enter the tournament as the group's strongest side on paper, making their eighth appearance.

They have established themselves as a consistent force in youth football, finishing runners-up in 2015, fourth in 2017, and third in 2023.

In recent tournament cycles, Mali have also shown strong competitive consistency, including a notable 3-0 group-stage win over New Zealand and progression to the knockout rounds in their latest campaign, before narrowly exiting after a high-scoring defeat.

Belgium bring European pedigree and technical discipline into the group, marking their fourth appearance at the U17 World Cup. Their best finish came in 2015 when they secured third place.

In recent competition, Belgium demonstrated attacking strength in the group stage with a 7-0 win over Fiji and victories over Tunisia, before being eliminated in a tight knockout match against eventual champions Portugal.

New Zealand arrive as the most experienced of the three in terms of appearances, with 12 participations. However, their historical success has been limited, with their best performances being group-stage progression in 2009, 2011 and 2015.

In recent editions, New Zealand have struggled to advance, including a group-stage exit after defeats against stronger opposition such as Mali, Saudi Arabia and Austria.

The 2026 edition will take place in Qatar from Nov. 19 to Dec. 13 and feature 48 teams. Vietnam must finish in the top two of Group G or rank among the eight best third-placed teams to advance to the knockout stage.

The Asian Football Confederation will be represented by nine teams. In addition to host Qatar, eight nations secured qualification through the AFC U17 Championship quarter-finals: Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Australia.

Africa has 10 slots, while Europe holds 11. North and Central America have eight places, South America seven, and Oceania three. Two remaining African slots will be decided through play-offs scheduled for May 23.

The tournament is expected to use multiple venues in Qatar, with previous editions having been staged at the Aspire Academy complex. The final is traditionally held at major stadiums such as Khalifa International Stadium.

The U17 World Cup, first held in 1985 in China, has been dominated historically by Nigeria, with five titles, followed by Brazil with four.

Vietnam beat UAE to reach U17 World Cup for first time

Vietnam national U17 football team secured a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for the first time after defeating United Arab Emirates national U17 football team 3-2 on in the final Group C match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia on early May 14 (Vietnam time).

 

Viet Nam edge Yemen in AFC U17 Asian Cup opener

Viet Nam national U17 football team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Yemen in their opening match of the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia early on May 7 (Viet Nam time).

 

PM hails U17 football team’s ASEAN triumph, sets sights higher

Presenting a certificate of merit to the team, the PM praised their championship run as a compelling and remarkable journey marked by resilience, determination, and a strong competitive spirit. The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, recording four wins and one draw while scoring 19 goals.

 

Vietnam crowned regional U17 champion, eyeing Asian competition

Vietnam set up their domination in the region with the fourth ASEAN U17 Boys’ Championship title while looking to highest result at the upcoming Asian Championship Finals next month.