Doha: Japan booked their spot in the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 Finals with a dominant 5-0 victory over Qatar in their final Group F qualifier on Sunday. The result saw Japan top the group with a flawless record of nine points from three matches, underlining their status as one of the tournament's powerhouses as they set their sights on a fifth title in the continental competition.   Playing in front of a home crowd at the Aspire Academy Stadium in Doha, Qatar aimed to secure qualification and put up a strong challenge, but Japan's class and experience were evident from the outset. The four-time champions took the lead just three minutes into the match, with Daichi Tani finding the back of the net to give Japan an early advantage. Despite Qatar's efforts to regroup, the young Samurai Blue controlled the tempo and threatened to extend their lead before halftime.   The second half saw Japan intensify their pressure, and Tani doubled his tally in the 52nd minute, putting the match firmly in Japan's grasp. Qatar's hopes of a comeback suffered a further setback three minutes later when Seifeldin Hassanein inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, making it 3-0. Japan continued to push forward, with Taiga Seguchi adding a fourth in the 68th minute. Hiroto Asada put the finishing touches on Japan's emphatic win, scoring their fifth goal in the 86th minute.   Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Qatar's young squad will look to learn from the experience as they continue to build for future competitions. The hosts had entered the match level on six points with Japan after securing victories against Mongolia and Nepal, but were unable to match the clinical finishing and disciplined play of their opponents. Meanwhile, Mongolia ended their campaign on a positive note by securing a late 1-0 win over Nepal, thanks to a last-minute goal, to finish third in the group. Japan's triumph saw them advance to the Finals, where they will look to extend their dominance in the competition and capture a record-equalling fifth title.