According to reports, the final of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup will take place on Sunday at King Fahd Stadium in Taif. The Saudi team, backed by passionate fans and a stable performance, reached the final through penalty shootouts in the knockout stages. They first defeated China and then overcame tough matches against Japan and South Korea, relying on their goalkeeper’s brilliance.

Saudi Arabia started their journey with a cohesive win over China. Despite losing their final group stage match to Uzbekistan’s second team, they drew 2-2 with Japan in the quarterfinals and won on penalties thanks to Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi’s saves. In the semifinals, they trailed South Korea late but equalized and again relied on Al-Otaibi’s penalty heroics to advance.

On the other side, Uzbekistan, known as the “White Wolves,” showcased their strength from the first match with fast, high-pressure play. They overcame Thailand with goals from Aliyev and precise passes from Sudikov, then secured a last-minute victory in a tight match. After topping their group, they displayed tactical cohesion in the knockout stages.

Uzbekistan even defeated the host Saudi Arabia with their second-string team in the group stage. In the quarterfinals, they dominated with numerical superiority and attacking coordination, proving their readiness for a second title after 2012.

Technically, Uzbekistan is led by Islambek Ismailov, the tournament’s youngest coach at 32. He began coaching at 27 and has built a unified team with the same youth generation, emphasizing attacking, possession-based football. His team has won all matches in regulation time en route to the final.

Now, these two teams are one step away from glory. Saudi Arabia seeks a third title, while Uzbekistan aims for their second Asian crown. The Taif clash will not only be a battle of contrasting football styles but also a showdown between two energetic generations and different tactical approaches.