South Korean fans react upon facing Vietnam U17 at the Asian tournament

The draw places South Korea U17 in Group C alongside Yemen, Vietnam, and UAE, forming a group considered balanced yet full of potential surprises.

Based on results from the last three editions, South Korea U17 is seeded in Pot 1, reflecting the strong status and tradition of this young Korean team in the continental arena. However, with the steady development of youth football across Asia, being in Group C does not guarantee an easy path towards the championship ambition.

However, judging from what just happened recently at the U23 Asian Championship, South Korean supporters have reasons to worry about their team’s performance. In fact, many fans from Korea have left comments like these on popular Korean social media platforms such as Naver and KKTalk.

"Again? Why do we keep facing Vietnam so often?"- one fan commented.

Another said: "Enough already, we still haven't gotten over the embarrassment from last time" (referring to the third-place match at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship).

Another fan expressed more pessimism: "It would be a disaster if we get eliminated in the group stage."

The 2026 U17 Asian Championship will take place in May in Saudi Arabia with 16 teams divided into 4 groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals and also secure a spot in the 2026 U17 World Cup held in Qatar in November. Notably, since 2025, the U17 World Cup has expanded to 48 teams and is held annually, making the continental qualifiers even more competitive.

For South Korea U17, the goal is nothing less than the championship. The team won titles in 1986 and 2002, but it has been 24 years since their last continental triumph. In 2008, 2014, and 2023, Korea reached the finals but failed to clinch the title. In the most recent tournament, they were eliminated in the semifinals after a penalty shootout against Saudi Arabia.

Looking at the strength in Group C, Yemen stands out as a notable opponent. The West Asian team reached the quarterfinals in 2023 and has good physical endurance. The head-to-head record at U17 level shows Korea slightly ahead with 1 win and 2 draws, but the margin is not large.

Meanwhile, Vietnam U17 is considered an interesting wildcard. Although they exited at the group stage in the last three editions, Vietnamese youth football has shown positive signs recently. The head-to-head favors Korea with 3 wins and 2 draws, but at youth level, anything can happen if a generation peaks at the right moment.

Therefore, Group C promises excitement right from the first matchday. For South Korea U17, advancing may be within reach, but to pursue a historic third title, they will need to demonstrate resilience and consistency throughout the tournament.