Group A
Saudi Arabia
Previous Appearances: 11
Best finish: Champions (1985, 1988)
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 3, including emerging champions in 1989
How they got there: Hosts
Fun fact: Saudi Arabia’s appearance in the 2023 quarter-finals was their first at that stage since the 2008 edition
Uzbekistan
Previous Appearances: 10
Best finish: Champions (2012)
2023 result: Semi-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 3
How they got there: Group E winners
Fun fact: Uzbekistan have advanced to the knockout stage in their last six appearances at the Finals
Thailand
Previous Appearances: 12
Best finish: Champions (1998)
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 2
How they got there: Group D winners
Fun fact: In qualifying for the 2023 quarter-finals, Thailand ended a run of five group stage exits
China PR
Previous appearances: 15
Best finish: Champions (1992, 2004)
2023 result: Group stage
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 6
How they got there: One of five best runners-up
Fun fact: China PR have not advanced past the group stage in their last five appearances at the Finals
Group B
Japan
Previous appearances: 16
Best finish: Champions (1994, 2006, 2018, 2023)
2023 result: Champions
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 10
How they got there: Group F runners-up
Fun fact: Japan are the only team to have won back-to-back AFC U17 Asian Cup titles
Australia
Previous Appearances: 7
Best finish: Semi-finals (2010, 2014, 2018)
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 13 (3 since joining the AFC)
How they got there: Group G winners
Fun fact: Australia have not missed a single edition of the Finals since making their debut in 2008
Vietnam
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: 4th (2000)
2023 result: Group stage
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: Nil
How they got there: One of five best runners-up
Fun fact: Vietnam have only advanced past the group stage in two of their previous eight appearances at the Finals
United Arab Emirates
Previous Appearances: 7
Best finish: Runners-up (1990)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 3
How they got there: Group H winners
Fun fact: The best UAE have managed since finishing runners-up in 1990 was advancing to the semi-finals of the 2008 edition
Group C
Korea Republic
Previous Appearances: 15
Best finish: Champions (1986, 2002)
2023 result: Runners-up
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 8
How they got there: Group C winners
Fun fact: Besides emerging champions twice, Korea Republic were runners-up in 2008, 2014 and 2023
Yemen
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: Runners-up (2002)
2023 result: Quarter-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 1
How they got there: Group I winners
Fun fact: Yemen’s appearance in the 2023 quarter-finals was the first time they had advanced to the knockout stage since emerging runners-up in 2002
Afghanistan
Previous Appearances: 2
Best finish: Group Stage
2023 result: Group Stage
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: Nil
How they got there: Group B winners
Fun fact: Afghanistan will be making their third consecutive appearance at the Finals
Indonesia
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: 4th (1990)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 1
How they got there: One of best five runners-up
Fun fact: Indonesia have only twice advanced past the group stage in their previous six appearances at the Finals
Group D
IR Iran
Previous appearances: 12
Best finish: Champions (2008)
2023 result: Semi-finals
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 5
How they got there: One of five best runners-up
Fun fact: Iran have emerged runners-up once (2016) and semi-finalists twice (2012, 2023) since winning their sole title in 2008
Tajikistan
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: Runners-up (2018)
2023 result: Group stage
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 2
How they got there: Group J winners
Fun fact: Tajikistan will feature in the Finals for a third consecutive edition
Oman
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Champions (1996, 2000)
2023 result: Did not qualify
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 3
How they got there: One of five best runners-up
Fun fact: Oman have not advanced to the semi-finals since winning the second of their two titles in 2000
DPR Korea
Previous Appearances: 11
Best finish: Champions (2010, 2014)
2023 result: Did not participate
Previous FIFA U17 World Cup appearances: 3
How they got there: Group A winners
Fun fact: Besides emerging champions twice, DPR Korea were runners-up in 2004 and 2006
