U17 Vietnam has been drawn into a tough group, facing South Korea at the AFC U17 Asian Cup finals.

U17 Vietnam is set to face South Korea, UAE, and Yemen in Group C, teams known for being tough and presenting a major challenge.

On the afternoon of February 12th, the group draw ceremony took place. The AFC U17 Men's Asian Cup 2026was held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The draw placed U17 Vietnam in Group C alongside U17 South Korea, U17 UAE, and U17 Yemen—a group regarded as highly competitive.

Among the three opponents, South Korea is the most historically successful, having won the U17 Asian title twice. UAE and Yemen are also formidable, both having reached the finals before. Meanwhile, U17 Vietnam’s best performance remains fourth place (in 2000). These statistics partly illustrate the tough challenge awaiting the Vietnamese team in the upcoming journey.

The 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup features 16 teams divided into 4 groups of 4. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. The short format and the "one match can change everything" nature make the group stage competition expected to be intense from the very first round.

U17 Vietnam qualified for the finals by topping their group in the qualifiers, marking their 10th appearance in the AFC U17 Asian Cup. Notably, this tournament holds special significance as it also serves as the qualification for the 2026 U17 World Cup.After FIFA expanded the U17 World Cup to 48 teams, Asia was allocated 8 slots—meaning the 8 best-performing teams at the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup will qualify. Therefore, finishing in the top 2 of the group almost guarantees a World Cup spot, creating both motivation and pressure for all teams.

Although Group C is considered difficult, U17 Vietnam’s chances remain alive. UAE and Yemen are rated close in level to Vietnam, so direct encounters will be decisive for advancing. Additionally, surprising South Korea is not impossible if U17 Vietnam plays disciplined, resilient football and capitalizes on key moments.

The memory of narrowly missing out on World Cup qualification last time makes this journey even more anticipated. Last year, U17 Vietnam came very close to a historic milestone before UAE equalized 1-1 in the 87th minute—a moment that slipped success away. This time, the priority is to get past the group stage and open the door to the World Cup.

The 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup will be held from May 7 to 24 in Saudi Arabia. U17 Vietnam will start their campaign against U17 UAE—a kickoff match regarded as a crucial "test" for Vietnam’s youth football World Cup dream.