The AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 cast was finalised following the completion of the Qualifiers on Sunday.
The eight group winners -Korea Republic (Group A), Uzbekistan (Group B), North Korea (Group C), Tajikistan (Group D), Saudi Arabia (Group E), Iraq (Group F), Japan (Group G) and Indonesia (Group H) joined hosts China PR at next year’s Finals.
The seven best second-placed sides will also book their spots in the Finals. The second placed qualifiers include India (Group B), Iran (Group C), Jordan (Group D), Thailand (Group F), Malaysia (Group H), Singapore (Group J) and Maldives (Group K).
Malaysia finished second in the Group H behind Indonesia on five points after defeating Laos 2-1 and booked their places.
Under pelting rain at Lao National Stadium, Malaysia took the lead in the seventh minute when Haziq Aziz’s attempted cross from the left whizzed past Souksamone Vethita in Laos’ goal.
Laos had their chances to pull level but Chansamone Phetsomphone was twice denied by Faez Iqhwan, the Malaysia custodian bravely diving into a one-on-one then catching a curler from outside the box.
Malaysia went looking for the additional goal early in the second half with Mohamad Helmi’s long range strike flashing just wide in the 50th minute.
A moment of miscommunication at the back between Amar Imran and Faez in allowing a long ball from the Laos defence to bounce in the box in the 70th minute was capitalised on by the alert Odin Siphanit who prodded home the equaliser from close range.
Parity, however, only lasted six minutes as Malaysia broke on the counter with Izzuddin Afif surging up the right flank to cross for Fadhlul Hadi to knock in the winner.
Meanwhile, in the Development Phase, Mongolia defeated Guam 3-0 to top Group I with both teams promoted to the next edition’s Qualification Phase.
Group J saw Chinese Taipei and Singapore booking their promotion places with their meeting on Sunday ending 2-0 in favour of the East Asian side.
Myanmar and Maldives had secured their places in the 2029 Qualification Phase with a match to spare in Group K with the former defeating the latter 6-0 to cap a perfect campaign.
Qualification Phase
Group A (Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek)
Korea Republic 0-0 Kyrgyz Republic
Group B (Do’stlik Stadium, Tashkent)
India 3-0 Bangladesh
Uzbekistan 3-0 Syria
Group C (Viet Tri Stadium, Viet Tri)
DPR Korea 4-0 Palestine
IR Iran 3-1 Vietnam
Group D (Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town, UTC+3)
Jordan 0-1 Tajikistan
Bahrain 1-3 Afghanistan
Group E (Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha)
Oman 1-1 Hong Kong, China
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Qatar
Group F (Chonburi Stadium, Chonburi)
UAE 3-2 Turkmenistan
Iraq 3-1 Thailand
Group G (National Sports Complex of Cambodia, Phnom Penh)
Japan 4-0 Yemen
Cambodia 0-5 Kuwait
Group H (Lao National Stadium KM16, Vientiane)
Australia 0-2 Indonesia
Malaysia 2-1 Laos
Development Phase
Group I (MFF Stadium, Ulaanbaatar)
Mongolia 3-0 Guam
Group J (Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu)
Chinese Taipei 2-0 Singapore
Bhutan 7-0 Macau, China
Group K (Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon)
Myanmar 6-0 Maldives
Brunei Darussalam 0-2 Sri Lanka
