Shenzhen is bracing itself for a football spectacle as it gears up to host the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025, which commences Wednesday. The tournament, a pinnacle of competition for Asia’s most promising U20 players, will bring together 16 of the continent’s strongest football teams.

Shenzhen’s selection as the host city is no coincidence, according to a Chinese Football Association official. The city’s burgeoning sports industry, bolstered by progressive sports concepts and a proven track record in tournament organization, provides a robust foundation for hosting such grand events.

The city has pulled out all the stops in preparing state-of-the-art sporting venues. The Shenzhen Bao’an Sports Center Stadium, Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Stadium, Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base No.1 Field, and Longhua Sports Center Stadium are among the four competition areas, each boasting world-class facilities befitting the competition’s high standards.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen’s rich experience in event operation and successful hosting of multiple international sports events will ensure seamless organization, logistics, and fan services.The Chinese team, grouped with Australia, Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar in Group A, faces a challenging path ahead. Australia, despite missing star player Nestory Irankunda, remains a formidable opponent with a robust playing style and superior physicality.

The Qatari team, which has seen significant success in youth training, will be a tough nut to crack with a tactically mature squad. Kyrgyzstan, though seemingly the underdog, has a history of causing upsets with their tenacity and tactical discipline.

The Chinese team, primarily composed of the 2005/06 age group, including seven players from Shandong Taishan Football Club and three overseas players, is ready to make its mark. Under the guidance of Serbian coach Dejan Djurdjevic, the team has honed its skills through a rigorous two-week training camp in Thailand and warm-up matches against the Uzbekistan U20 and Syria U20 teams.

The Chinese team’s opening match against Qatar at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Stadium in Guangming District is set to be a thriller. The support of the home crowd is expected to be a significant morale booster for the Chinese players as they strive for a strong start in the tournament.After playing against Qatar, the Chinese team will face challenges from Kyrgyzstan and Australia, respectively. 

According to the competition format, the top two teams from the four groups will advance to the knockout stage, and the top four teams will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup Chile 2025.