AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers begin for South Korea and Japan

The AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers are underway, with major East Asian youth teams preparing for their opening matches.

The South Korean U-20 national team faces a challenging campaign in Group A after the withdrawal of the Philippines. This leaves South Korea with only two matches: against Lebanon and the host nation, Kyrgyzstan. The squad is currently missing seven key players, including rising stars like Song Jeong-bom, due to club commitments. Additionally, South Korea enters the qualifiers following a recent 0-1 loss in a test match against Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, the Japan U-19 national team has announced its starting lineup for their Group G opener against Kuwait. Managed by Tomohiro Yamaguchi, the Japanese squad features players such as Kento Hamasaki and Hiroto Asada. Japan's schedule includes matches against Kuwait, Cambodia, and Yemen as they compete for a spot in the main tournament and subsequent U-20 World Cup qualification.