RIYADH: Lebanon’s journey in the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia may have ended early, but after being drawn in a group alongside two former champions, progression on their tournament debut would always be a challenge.
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And despite elimination, head coach Jamal Taha and his players believe the experience points towards a promising future for Lebanese football.
With Lebanon set to feature at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi 2027 in under 12 months, the U-23 tournament served as an important platform for the next generation to stake their claim ahead of the senior tournament. They might not have advanced to the knockout stage, but the Cedars put in a string of impressive performances that suggests they can compete at continental level.
Lebanon opened their campaign with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Uzbekistan, one of the competition’s most successful nations, before a late 4-2 defeat to South Korea that saw them lead for substantial portions of the game. They concluded their participation with a 1-0 victory over Iran.
