U-17 Asian Cup Draw: Indonesia Grouped with Japan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian U-17 national team has been officially placed in Group B of the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, following the draw conducted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. This outcome places the Garuda Muda in a group defined by deep tradition and extensive experience.

In Group B, Indonesia will face Japan, the most successful team in the tournament's history with four championship titles won in 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2023. In the previous edition, Japan secured the trophy by defeating South Korea 3-0 in the final held in Thailand.

In addition to Japan, Indonesia is grouped with China. The country remains a long-standing powerhouse in Asian youth football with two championship titles, a record shared by South Korea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

The final team completing Group B is Qatar. The Gulf nation previously clinched the AFC U-17 Asian Cup title in 1990 and has gained recognition for its consistent youth development efforts over the past decade.

The 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from April 30 to May 17, 2026.

Indonesia secured its spot in the final round through automatic qualification alongside eight other nations after successfully advancing to the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup. This placement was guaranteed thanks to the team's achievement in reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, while still under the guidance of coach Nova Arianto.

Leading up to the 2026 tournament, Indonesia has undergone rigorous preparations, including two friendly matches against China at the Indomilk Arena in Tangerang Regency. In those two matches, the Garuda Muda suffered defeats, which served as a vital evaluation for refining the team's composition and tactics ahead of the competition in Group B.

2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Draw Results:

Group A: Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Myanmar.

Group B: Japan, Indonesia, China, Qatar.

Group C: South Korea, Yemen, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates.

Group D: Uzbekistan, Australia, India, North Korea.

Read: Jakarta's GBK to Host 2026 FIFA Series in Late March

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