How strong are the three opponents competing for a World Cup spot with Vietnam U17?

Vietnam U17 is preparing to embark on its next, more crucial mission: securing a World Cup berth through the AFC U17 Championship 2026.

Immediately after winning the ASEAN U17 Championship 2026, Vietnam U17 had almost no time to rest and had to immediately begin preparations for the new tournament, the AFC U17 Championship 2026. This is an extremely important competition with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the U17 World Cup Finals taking place later this year.

Coach Roland and his team will return home on April 26th, scheduled to land at 18:15 at the international terminal of Noi Bai Airport. The team will continue preparations for the AFC U17 Championship 2026 at the VFF. According to the plan, on May 3rd, the team will depart for Saudi Arabia.

According to the draw results for the AFC U17 Championship 2026, Vietnam U17 is placed in Group C alongside opponents Yemen U17, South Korea U17, and UAE U17. Coach Cristiano Roland's team will face Yemen on May 6th, South Korea on May 10th, and UAE on May 13th. This is considered a challenging group but also opens up significant opportunities for Vietnamese youth football.

According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals and also secure a spot in the U17 World Cup 2026. This is a very important goal for Vietnam U17 after years of waiting. Impressive performances in the recent ASEAN U17 Championship have earned the team high expectations from fans ahead of the continental stage.

Vietnam U17's first opponent is Yemen U17, a West Asian representative with very high form. In the qualifiers, Yemen won all five matches against Pakistan, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, and Guam to top Group B. They scored up to 24 goals, averaging 4.8 goals per match, and conceded only three times, demonstrating formidable strength in both attack and defense.

Meanwhile, South Korea U17 and UAE U17 also pose major challenges as they belong to Asia's top-tier strong teams. Vietnam U17 previously faced UAE in the AFC U17 Championship 2025 and was very close to victory before conceding a late equalizer for a 1-1 draw, thereby missing the World Cup spot. This time, the squad born in 2009 carries the hope of continuing the unfinished dream, aiming for their first appearance at the U17 World Cup 2026.

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