Kingdom’s U-19 women’s team hosts Vietnam in AFC qualifiers

AMMAN — The U-19 women’s team plays the host Vietnam on Sunday in their third match in Round 1 qualifiers for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-19 Championship. 

Jordan now shares Group E lead with Vietnam after it beat Singapore 8-0 and Malaysia 2-1. Vietnam leads the group on points after it beat Malaysia 2-1 and Singapore 11-0.

A total of 27 teams are playing in six groups with group winners and top two second placed teams moving to Round 2 set for April 2019, where the teams will play in two groups with the group winner and runner up advancing to join Japan, North Korea, China in the final.

Earlier this week, the men’s U-19 national team was eliminated from Round 1 of the AFC U-19 Championship in Indonesia.

Jordan finished third in Group C after it beat Vietnam 2-1, lost to South Korea 3-1 and held Australia 1-1. A total of 16 teams competed in four groups with Thailand, Qatar, Indonesia, Japan, Tajikistan, Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia making it to the quarterfinals starting on Sunday. The eventual semifinalists will advance to the FIFA U-19 World Cup.

Jordan was hoping to advance in the Asian event after it failed to qualify to the championships in 2014 and 2016. It was the fifth time for Jordan at the championship with the best showing when it finished fourth in 2006 and advanced to the FIFA Youth World Cup in Canada in 2007. Jordan exited the first round in 2008 and 2010 and reached the quarters in 2012. 

Other than the women’s U-19 team, there is the women’s senior team left in Asian competitions. They will play the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers set for November 4 where Jordan will compete in Group D alongside the Maldives, Palestine and Indonesia.