AFC issues a verdict on Vietnam's World Cup dream

AFC has revised the AFC U17 Championship, the competition in which Vietnam's U17 squad is strongly committed to qualifying for the World Cup.

On January 24, the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Competition Organizing Committee held a meeting to discuss and approve various matters related to the club and national team competitions scheduled in the upcoming period. The meeting was chaired by Vietnam Football Federation President Trần Quốc Tuấn in his capacity as a member of FIFA’s National Team Competitions Committee for the 2025-2029 term, AFC Executive Committee member, and Chairman of the AFC Competitions Committee.

Regarding youth tournaments, the AFC Competitions Committee acknowledged FIFA’s decision to hold the U17 World Cup annually, which has led to adjustments in the organization of the AFC U17 qualifiers.

Under the new plan, starting with the 2028 AFC U17 qualifiers (held in 2027), AFC will allocate final tournament spots based on the results of regional competitions, with Southeast Asia expected to receive 4 slots for the AFC U17 Championship finals. This distribution is considered to ensure regional balance while also improving the quality of play, event management, and refereeing at youth competitions.

This is a critical detail that Vietnam’s U17 team must pay close attention to, as the AFC U17 Championship serves as the gateway to the U17 World Cup. From 2025 to 2029, the U17 World Cup will be held annually, and simply advancing past the group stage of the AFC U17 Championship will secure a place on the global stage.

At the meeting, the AFC Competition Organizing Committee ratified the regulations for club competitions including the AFC Champions League Elite (Asia’s top-tier club tournament), AFC Champions League Two (second-tier), and AFC Challenge League (third-tier) for the 2026/27 season.

Notably, the AFC Champions League Elite is being considered for expansion from 24 to 32 teams. If approved, this would provide countries including Vietnam with more opportunities to participate in Asia’s premier club competition.