Asian Football Confederation reacts immediately as Vietnam defeats Malaysia decisively in Southeast Asian final

Following the crushing 3-0 victory over Malaysia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) bestowed glowing praise for the historic championship and unprecedented journey of Vietnam's U17 team.

The 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship final in Indonesia concluded with a scenario that could not have been more perfect for coach Cristiano Roland and his squad. The dominant victory over Malaysia's U17 team not only brought the golden trophy to the S-shaped land but also triggered a media "earthquake" across the continent.

Immediately after the final whistle sounded, the AFC Asian Cup homepage promptly posted a solemn congratulatory message for the new regional champion. AFC wrote: “Vietnam U17 – Southeast Asian Champion! A deserving journey for the young warriors”.

The recognition from the most authoritative football body in Asia is solid proof of Vietnam's top status. Not merely a formal congratulation, AFC highly valued how the "Golden Star Warriors" overcame immense hurdles like Australia in the semifinal or the familiar opponent Malaysia to ascend to the highest podium.

Vietnam U17 claims the crown in a manner that forces the entire region to bow in admiration. Dao Quy Vuong opened the scoring with a decisive strike in the 11th minute, before the "assassin" Nguyen Van Duong completed a classy double, including a fast counter-attack validated by VAR in the 54th minute.

This victory officially etches Vietnam into history as the tournament's most successful team (4 championships in 2006, 2010, 2017, 2026), surpassing even powers like Thailand and Australia. More notably, coach Cristiano Roland set a record of 16 consecutive unbeaten matches across all official competitions – a statistic never achieved by any youth team in Vietnam's football history.

In that 16-match unbeaten streak, our young players scored up to 59 goals and conceded merely 4 times. The image of Vietnam U17 resiliently drawing with Japan and UAE on the continental stage or "destroying" Southeast Asian opponents affirms a youth development system at its peak maturity.

With recognition from AFC and respect from regional rivals, Vietnam U17 is brimming with confidence heading towards the AFC U17 Championship finals next May. The verdict is clear: Vietnam is now not only the "king" of Southeast Asia but also a formidable force expanding its continental reach.

Vietnam causes Malaysia to suffer three consecutive defeats within just six months