Myanmar U17 book 2026 Asian Cup spot
MYANMAR U17 turned a long-held dream
into reality at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre yesterday, sealing their place
at the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup after earning the single point they needed in the
final Group G match. The 4 pm kick-off drew a passionate home crowd and
delivered a Myanmar football history.
Knowing a draw was enough but refusing
to sit back, Myanmar made bold changes to their starting XI and opened the
match on the front foot. The aggressive approach paid off early. After only
ten minutes, Nyi Nyi Thant rose to meet a cross and steered in a powerful header
for the breakthrough goal, sending the stadium into celebration.
Syria struck back five minutes later
when Ahmad curled in the equalizer, injecting intensity into the match. A few
Myanmar players showed nerves, but the team’s collective structure remained
strong, allowing them to regain momentum. In the 34th minute, Arnt Htoo
Paing found the decisive touch to restore Myanmar’s lead at 2-1 and tilt the
match back in their favour.
Team Myanmar controlled long stretches
of the first half and protected their advantage until late in the game. Syria’s
Odey pulled the score level at 2-2 in the 85th minute, but Myanmar kept their
composure, managed the closing minutes, and secured the point that sealed
qualification.
Myanmar finished Group G with four matches
played, three wins and one draw without losses collecting ten points and
topping the group. Despite being drawn with strong Middle East teams, Myanmar
delivered their most balanced campaign in years, beating Afghanistan 3-1,
overpowering Nepal 4-0, shutting down Oman 2-0 and finally earning a crucial
draw against Syria.
U Thaung Win, a Myanmar football
supporter who watched the match said, “Syria were pushing hard today because
they needed a clean-sheet win after gaining an extra rest day. Their loss to
Oman happened because they were reduced to ten men. Myanmar were the stronger
side in the first half, but two key players were injured, so the team had to
struggle in the second half. They deserve praise for holding on to the result”.
With ten points, Myanmar officially
qualified for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
In recognition of the historic achievement, Acting President of the Republic
of the Union of Myanmar and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing granted K100 million as a reward to the Myanmar
U17 squad.
Teams already qualified for the 2026 AFC
U17 Asian Cup now include Saudi Arabia (hosts, 2025 runners-up), Qatar (U-17
World Cup hosts), Uzbekistan (2025 champions), South Korea and North Korea
(2025 semi-finalists), Japan, Indonesia, UAE and Tajikistan (2025 quarter-finalists),
and Myanmar (winners of Group G). — Ko Nyi Lay/Htun Htun/MNA/KZL
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