IR Iran climb to top of Group D in AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ahmedabad.
AFC U17 Asian Cup action. Photo BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency , Ahmedabad: The second matchday in Group D of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers saw Islamic Republic of Iran rise to the top of Group D in style with a 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad. Palestine and Lebanon played out a 1-1 draw later in the day.
AFC U17 Asian Cup action. Photo BS News Agency.
Both games in the first matchday on Saturday ended in draws (Palestine 1-1 India and Lebanon 0-0 Chinese Taipei), which meant three points in their first game were enough for IR Iran to go top of the table. Palestine and Lebanon are second and third, respectively, with two points each. India and Chinese Taipei are fourth and fifth, respectively, with a point apiece. Only the group winners will qualify for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026.
Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei 0
lost to
IR Iran 5 (Mahan Beheshti 45', 90+1', Amirreza Valipoor 52', Jafar Asadi 56', Mohammad Ghasemi 82')
Although IR Iran dominated the ball from the first whistle, they were kept at bay for most of the opening half because of some spirited defending by Chinese Taipei.
But the deadlock was finally broken in the 45th minute, with Pouya Jafari serving a cutback from the right for captain Mahan Beheshti, who struck it first-time from 14 yards out. His shot took a wicked deflection off Chinese Taipei defender Gao Yu-zhu, wrongfooting goalkeeper Lin Cheng-en, who could do nothing to save the ball from entering the net.
Head coach Armaghan Ahmadi's side went on a rampage right from the start of the second half, scoring the second goal in the 52nd minute. As Chinese Taipei failed to fully clear a long ball from Iranian centre-back Pouya Esmi, it fell kindly for Amirreza Valipoor, who poked it in from close range.