The Subway Joeys will face Japan in their third and final group stage match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ on Friday morning (AEST).
Australia have been unable to secure a win in Group B so far. In their first game, they drew 1-1 with Vietnam despite hitting the woodwork on several occasions. They were similarly frustrated in their 2-0 defeat against the United Arab Emirates, with three shots deflecting away from the frame of goal.
The tournament doubles as qualifiers for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2025™. If the Subway Joeys finish in the top two and advance from their group, they will qualify for their first FIFA U17 World Cup since 2019.
The Joeys are still in contention to finish in the top two in the group. The equation is relatively simple for Brad Maloney's boys: beat Japan. If the game between Vietnam and the UAE does not end in a draw, they will qualify for the knock-out stages and will receive a World Cup berth at Japan's expense.
Japan are currently top of the group with four points from their two games. They need at least a point from the game to qualify for the next stage of the competition. If they are defeated, the Joeys will go ahead of them on the basis of head-to-head results.
It will, of course, be no easy feat for the Joeys to defeat them. Japan have won the previous two editions of the tournament and were successful at reaching the Round of 16 at consecutive FIFA U17 World Cups.
They are coached by former Japan international Nozomi Hiroyama. He said throughout the week that Japan would approach this match the same as any other, despite what is at stake.
Japan's previous two results were a 4-1 victory over the UAE, and a 1-1 draw with Vietnam. Minato Yoshida is the danger player for Japan, having scored three goals so far in the tournament, including a brace in game one.
The Samuari Blue will be a tough opponent, but all focus for the Joeys will be on securing all three points to advance in the tournament.
- READ MORE: Subway Joeys squad announced ahead of AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™
- READ MORE: How To Watch: Australia at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™
What They Said
Brad Maloney
It's important for the boys to stick to their principles. It's done us well in the past, in previous tournaments, and it's no different here. So we'll take that into the next game and prepare accordingly, and look to get the three points against Japan.
Everybody's obviously disappointed at the result [against the UAE], but by the same token, very upbeat about the next game. We know that we need to win the next game to proceed. So we really want to prepare properly for that, and get ready for that match against Japan. We know that there are very high-quality opponents, so we're going to have to be prepared for that and be at our best on the day.
Haine Eames
We all still believe. We always put in good performances and I think we can go one better against Japan. Naturally, the boys are sometimes a little bit down immediately after the game, but everyone picks themselves up the day after as there’s no point dwelling. We’ve just got to pick ourselves back up and go again.
Playing against Japan should suit us more as in the last two games, the opposition set up very differently to how we and Japan play.
They like to play a passing game and to work the ball around. That will be better for us as it’s two footballing sides going head-to-head. In those types of games, we stand a great chance.
Charlie Parkin
The loss against UAE was our first since we started this Joeys campaign as a group. We need to put those two games behind us and focus purely on Japan. If someone said to me before, ‘you've got 90 minutes to go to the World Cup’, I'd take that every day of the week. We have full belief that we can win. We’re fully focused on getting the job done against Japan.
I think it'll be more of an open game. Japan are the defending champions. So it's obviously going to be a hard game, but we're up for it. You've got to beat the best to be the best. Japan are a great, very technical team, but I think we're as good as them and we can put up a great fight. We’ve got the desire and the belief to beat them and qualify for the World Cup.
Match Details
Japan U17 v Subway Joeys
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Okaz Stadium, Taif
Kick-off: 6.00pm local / 1.00am AEST (Friday, 11 April)
Broadcast: 10 Play