Bangladesh finished second in Group A of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers after suffering a 4–0 defeat to hosts China in their final match on Sunday.
Playing in front of a packed stadium with around 15,500 spectators, China dominated from the outset. Jersey No. 21, Shuai Weihao, proved the difference with a brilliant hat-trick to drive his side to qualification.
China started aggressively and took control early. Weihao opened the scoring in the ninth minute before doubling the lead in the 39th. Despite facing relentless pressure, Bangladesh produced 3-4 promising attacking moves and earned a corner in the 12th minute when Rediuon forced a mistake from the Chinese goalkeeper. However, they were unable to turn opportunities into goals.
After the break, China maintained their momentum. Weihao completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute with a well-timed header from a corner. Bangladeshi goalkeeper Alif stood out with several saves, including a vital stop just before the third goal and another in the 58th minute. Zhao sealed the result in the 88th minute with China’s fourth of the evening.
China finish top of the group and secure their spot in the final tournament. Bangladesh, who showed resilience throughout the qualifiers and entered the match with 12 points from four games, end their journey in second place and exit without qualification.
