BEIJING — The Saudi U-20 national team clinched qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 victory over China in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-20 Championship. With the match heading toward extra time, Ammar Al-Yahibi struck a thunderous shot in the final moments of stoppage time, sealing Saudi Arabia's 10th appearance in the U-20 World Cup and propelling the team to the tournament's semifinals. The closely contested match, played on Chinese soil, saw Saudi goalkeeper Hamed Youssef play a crucial role in keeping a clean sheet. The tension peaked when China was awarded a penalty, but Youssef's heroics denied the hosts a lead, keeping Saudi hopes alive. Saudi Arabia's journey in the tournament began with a victory over Jordan, followed by a narrow defeat to Iraq, before bouncing back with a win over North Korea to reach the knockout stage. With the hard-fought quarterfinal win against China, the team not only advanced to the AFC U-20 Championship semifinals but also secured its place in the World Cup, set to take place in September 2025. This marks Saudi Arabia's first U-20 World Cup appearance since 2019, when the tournament was held in Poland. Head coach Marcos Soares started the match with Hamed Youssef in goal, supported by Nawaf Al-Ghulaimish, Saud Haroun, Mohammed Barnawi, and Awad Aman in defense. The midfield featured Bassem Hazzazi, Abdulmalik Al-Harbi, Farhat Al-Shamrani, and Hussein Al-Raqwani, while Saad Haqwi and Thamer Al-Khaibri led the attack. As the final whistle blew, Saudi players celebrated their hard-earned victory, knowing their journey on the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup was now secured.
