What did the assistant coach of Vietnam’s youth team say after drawing with PSG and scoring against Barcelona?

Assistant coach Hoang Dinh Tung gave important insights after U16 PVF managed to hold PSG to a draw and scored against Barcelona.

U16 PVF recently had the opportunity to participate in the Alkass International Cup 2026, a prestigious tournament for youth teams held at the Aspire Academy (Qatar). This competition gathers many top academies and professional clubs from Asia and around the world, providing young players with high-level football experience. Participation in this event is significant as it helps PVF players gain practical experience and gradually improve their technical skills.

Returning from Qatar, U16 PVF brought back a journey full of emotions and valuable lessons. Stepping onto a major stage, directly competing against “giants” of world youth football such as PSG and Barcelona is an experience not easily available to any young player. Although the results were not entirely as hoped, the determination, fighting spirit, and ambition of the PVF players left many positive impressions.

In this year’s tournament, U16 PVF played a total of five matches. The team secured a 1-1 draw against PSG and narrowly lost to Kashiwa Reysol (1-2), Barcelona (1-3), and Etolie Sportive from Tunisia (0-1). These numbers may not fully reflect the team’s efforts, as the more important aspect is the valuable lessons the players gained after each game.

Reflecting on the journey at the Alkass International Cup 2026, assistant coach Hoang Dinh Tung candidly stated that this tournament was very beneficial for U16 PVF. According to him, facing top youth academies worldwide provided a special experience, helping the coaching staff and players recognize the gap and the demanding standards of elite football.

“From the moment we arrived in Qatar and received the warm welcome from the organizers, the whole team clearly felt the high quality of the tournament. The opponents in our group were very strong, and this might have been our first time playing against teams of such caliber. It was truly a priceless experience,” shared Mr. Hoang Dinh Tung.

Regarding the opponents, the U16 PVF assistant coach said he was particularly impressed with U16 Barcelona’s style. Throughout the matches, the coaching staff and players learned a lot—from ball control speed, opportunity exploitation, to finishing efficiency. These lessons will be important assets for U16 PVF as they continue to improve and develop in the future.