Image Credit: FIFA, KFA, JFA, VFF, FFIRI, Getty
The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off on Saturday, marking the start of a tournament with plenty of significance for Asian football.
In the competition’s first visit to East Asia since Japan hosted in 1979, hosts Korea Republic will be joined by four other AFC members, all of whom will be looking not only to impress against traditional powerhouses in Europe, Africa, and South America.
Will one of these five countries match Japan’s runners-up finish against Spain in 1999, the best-ever result for an AFC member? Keep reading to learn more about each participant and their hopes for the group stage.