THE 2027 AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group A, hosted by Myanmar, will kick off today, with hosts Myanmar taking on Afghanistan and Cambodia facing the Philippines in the opening matches.
Group A comprises Indonesia, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Cambodia and the Philippines, with matches scheduled at two venues in Yangon. Initially, two matches per day were scheduled to be played at Star City Stadium and Padetha Stadium. However, due to weather conditions, all matches originally scheduled at Padetha Stadium will be moved to Thuwunna Stadium, with kick-off times set for 3 pm.
On the opening day, Myanmar will face Afghanistan at Thuwunna Stadium, while Cambodia will meet the Philippines at Star City Stadium.
A pre-tournament press conference attended by representatives of the participating Group A teams was held at the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) Hall in Yangon on 7 November.
Myanmar U17 head coach Koizumi said the team had made the best possible preparations for the competition. He noted that the friendly matches against India had been the team’s first international friendlies and revealed that some weaknesses had been identified. These had since been addressed, and the team would strive for good results by giving its best in every qualifying match.
Philippine U17 head coach Suarez said his team had prepared for the competition and was aware that strong teams were competing in the group. However, the team would do its utmost to achieve its goal of progressing to the next stage.
Indonesian U17 head coach David Da Silva said preparations had begun in June and that the team had played several friendly matches. He added that the young players were excited about the competition and that the team was now well prepared and would give its best.
Afghanistan U17 head coach Ali Ahmad said his team had made the best possible preparations with full determination and was ready to give its best in the opening match.
Cambodian U17 head coach Kha Amri described the competition as a valuable opportunity for his players to gain experience by competing at a high level. He said his team respected every opponent but feared none, adding that it would approach every match with discipline, determination and full confidence in its abilities. — Nyi Myat Thawta/ KZL