Southeast Asian Media: 'Vietnam's National Spirit at a Different Level'

The comeback 2-1 victory over U17 Australia in the semifinals of the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship not only secured U17 Vietnam's spot in the final, but also drew Southeast Asian media attention to a very special aspect.

Among them, the site Seasia Goal published a sensational article mentioning a very special name in the U17 Vietnam squad. Specifically, Seasia Goal wrote: "National spirit at a different level. A special name in the U17 Vietnam squad… Number 7: Nguyễn Hiệp Đại Việt Nam. The name says it all."

The post quickly attracted significant attention, as the name Nguyễn Hiệp Đại Việt Nam is seen as an interesting symbol of national spirit. This player came on as a substitute for Văn Dương in the second half of the match against U17 Australia. He currently belongs to Sports Center II of Ninh Bình province and is the only player in the team with a name consisting of five words.

Not only Nguyễn Hiệp Đại Việt Nam, the U17 Vietnam squad also impressed with many other excellent names such as Hồ Lê Nguyên Chương, Nguyễn Ngọc Anh Hào, Quán Thành Công, Đào Quý Vương, Chu Ngọc Nguyễn Lực, Triệu Đình Vỹ, Tạ Đình Phong, Lê Sỹ Bách, and Lê Trọng Đại Nhân. These names partly reflect distinctive cultural traits and create a unique impression of Vietnamese youth football in the eyes of regional peers.

Besides the interesting story about names, the on-field performance of U17 Vietnam was truly convincing. In the semifinal on April 22nd, coach Cristiano Roland's team started confidently but soon fell behind after Becvinovski's classy strike in the 10th minute. Nevertheless, U17 Vietnam did not falter. Towards the end of the first half, following a VAR situation confirming Đại Nhân was fouled inside the penalty area, Mạnh Cường capitalized on the opportunity with a successful headed follow-up to equalize 1-1.

In the second half, U17 Vietnam continued to display initiative and composure. In the 60th minute, from a well-organized set-piece, Nguyễn Lực scored accurately, raising the score to 2-1. In the remaining minutes, the defense, with the solidity of Đăng Khoa and Mạnh Cường, stood firm against pressure from the opponent.

Even U17 Australia received a red card in the 90+3rd minute after a dangerous foul, concluding a highly dramatic match. Ultimately, U17 Vietnam secured a 2-1 victory, officially qualifying for the final match.

The opponent of U17 Vietnam will be U17 Malaysia, who defeated U17 Laos 3-0 in the other semifinal. Earlier, in the group stage, U17 Vietnam had decisively beaten Malaysia 4-0, adding confidence for the rematch.

From the intriguing story about the name Nguyễn Hiệp Đại Việt Nam to the composed performance on the field, U17 Vietnam is not only making an impression professionally but also leaving a strong mark in the hearts of regional fans. This is seen as a major step forward, opening expectations for a new golden generation of Vietnamese football.