The side qualified for the tournament in last year in emphatic fashion, scoring 56 goals and conceding none in just four games.

However, it was not an ideal start to the AFC U16 tournament, going down to Australia's biggest footballing rival. 

The score was only 1-0 going into the half-time break, courtesy of a Japan goal after just six minutes. 

But it was all Japan in the second half, scoring four times to seal an emphatic victory in the tournament opener for both sides in Thailand. 

Next up Australia face North Korea - who won their opener 9-0 over Bangladesh - on Thursday. 

The top two nations from each of the two groups advance to the semi-finals of the competition. 

The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2018 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay as the AFC representatives.

Main pic: FFA