Vietnam U17 had their first training session in Japan

Coach Cristiano Roland and his team held their first training session in Ehime (Japan) once they had settled into their living quarters.

After settling into their accommodation in Ehime prefecture (Japan), on the afternoon of November 7 local time, the Vietnam U17 team began their first training session as part of a training camp lasting over a week in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The weather in Ehime was quite favorable for Coach Cristiano Roland and his players’ training activities, with cool temperatures, mild sunshine, and moderate humidity – ideal conditions that helped the players easily adapt and maintain good physical fitness.

The first training session was designed by the coaching staff with a moderate workload, primarily to help players recover their stamina after a long journey and to get used to the new environment and time zone. Additionally, Coach Cristiano Roland allocated time for tactical reinforcement exercises to help the whole team quickly synchronize with the training phase in Japan.

According to the plan, on November 8, the Vietnam U17 team will play their first friendly match against U18 Imabari FC – the youth squad of Imabari Club, currently competing in J.League 2. This match is considered a suitable test for the U17 team’s initial phase of refining their squad and playing style, aiming towards the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In Japan, the Vietnam U17 team is scheduled to have three international friendly matches against carefully selected “sparring partners” that meet the coaching staff’s professional requirements. Specifically, the team will face U18 Imabari on November 8, Matsuyama University on November 11, and U18 Ehime on November 13.

After completing the training camp, the Vietnam U17 team will return home on November 15 to enter the final preparation phase before participating in the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers, which will take place from November 22 to 30, 2025 in Hanoi and Hung Yen.

Training and competing in Japan – a country known for having one of Asia’s top youth development systems – is expected to help Vietnam U17 players gain valuable experience, aiming to secure a spot in the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup finals.