'Kim Hyun-jun-ho' U17 National Team, Final Roster for Asian Cup Confirmed... Includes An Ju-wan, Who Made the 'Youngest Professional Debut'

*This content was translated by AI.

The men's U-17 national team, led by head coach Kim Hyun-jun, embarks on a grand journey toward Asian supremacy. A final roster of 23 elite players has been confirmed, including An Ju-wan (17, Seoul I-land), who holds the record for the youngest appearance in K League 2.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the final roster for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from May 5 to 22, on the 24th.

The most notable name in this roster is An Ju-wan. As the only player from a professional team, An Ju-wan, who plays for I-land, shattered the record for the youngest appearance in K League 2 by playing in a league match on March 21 at the age of 16 years, 11 months, and 7 days. A recipient of the Cha Bum-kun Football Award, An Ju-wan has long been praised by on-site coaches for his unparalleled skills.

Several players who have signed pre-professional contracts, signaling their competitiveness on the professional stage, are also included. Choi Jae-hyuk (Gangwon FC U18), along with Kim Ji-ho and Gu Hoon-min (both Daejeon Hanacityzen U18), are determined to prove their worth in this tournament. With 20 of the 23rd players hailing from professional youth teams, the squad is considered to have a solid lineup.

The goal is clear: to secure a berth in the Qatar U-17 World Cup, which is awarded to the top eight teams in this tournament. Korea has won the championship twice, in 1986 and 2002, and reached the semifinals in the previous tournament, the 2025 Saudi Arabia edition.

The U-17 national team will conclude its domestic training at Paju Korea Football Park, which began on the 23rd, on the 25th, and depart for Doha, Qatar, the training camp location, that same night via Incheon International Airport. After final preparations in Qatar, the team plans to arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the decisive venue, on May 1.

Placed in Group C, Korea will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the group stage opener at 2:30 a.m. on May 7, Korean time. They will then compete for a spot in the tournament against Vietnam on the 11th and Yemen on the 14th.

- GK (3 players): Jang Jun-young (Pohang Steelers U18), Lee Seung-hwa (Seoul Boing High School), Moon Yu-no (Jeju SK U18)

- DF (8 players): Sung Min-soo, Choi Min-jun (both Pohang Steelers U18), Choi Geon-min (Jeonbuk Hyundai U18), Kang Mu-seong (Ulsan HD U18), Choi Jae-hyuk (Gangwon FC U18), Namgung Jun (Bucheon FC1995 U18), Im Yun-ho (Kim Cheon (SVP) U18), Park Ji-hoo (FC Seoul U18)

- MF (10 players): Han Seung-min (Jeonbuk Hyundai U18), Jung Ha-won, Moon Ji-hwan (both FC Seoul U18), Park Kyung-hoon, Lee In-woo (both Suwon Samsung U18), An Sun-hyeon (Pohang Steelers U18), Kim Ji-ho, Gu Hoon-min (both Daejeon Hanacityzen U18), Kim Tae-ho (Gyeongbuk Natural Science High School), An Ju-wan (Seoul I-land FC)

- FW (2 players): Kim Ji-woo (Busan IPark U18), Nam Yi-an (Ulsan HD U18)

- Match 1: South Korea vs. United Arab Emirates (UAE) (5/7, 02:30)

- Match 2: Vietnam vs. South Korea (5/11, 01:00)

- Match 3: South Korea vs. Yemen (5/14, 02:00)

* All matches will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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*This content was translated by AI.