Vietnam U17 does not take a holiday break, determined to secure a World Cup ticket

Right after arriving back in the country, Vietnam U17 resumes practice aiming for the AFC U17 Championship 2026.

On the evening of April 26, the Vietnam U17 national team returned home amid the warm welcome of fans following their impressive journey at the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship. The regional title is not only a deserved reward for the team's efforts but also boosts their confidence before stepping into a bigger challenge at the continental stage.

As soon as they landed in Hanoi, coach Cristiano Roland and his players did not have much time to rest. The whole team quickly moved to the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center to continue training, preparing for the AFC U17 Championship 2026 finals. Skipping the holiday break demonstrates the great determination of both the coaching staff and the young players.

The current preparation time is quite urgent as the tournament will kick off in just a few days. This forces Vietnam U17 to maintain high-intensity training while ensuring optimal physical condition, mental state, and focus. The coaching staff will also make tactical adjustments to help the team adapt to strong opponents at the continental level.

According to the plan, the AFC U17 Championship 2026 finals will take place in Saudi Arabia from May 5 to May 23, featuring the continent's 16 strongest teams. This tournament is particularly significant as the eight quarter-finalists, along with host Saudi Arabia, will earn qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026.

Vietnam U17 is placed in Group C alongside three opponents: Korea U17, UAE U17, and Yemen U17. This is considered a tough group as all three teams possess solid technical foundations and extensive international competition experience. Notably, Korea U17 is viewed as the top contender for the group's advancing ticket.

According to the match schedule, Vietnam U17 will face Yemen U17 on May 7, meet Korea U17 on May 10, and conclude the group stage with a match against UAE U17 on May 14. The entire team will depart for Saudi Arabia early on May 1. The Southeast Asian championship is an important stepping stone, but the larger goal remains to make an impact in Asia and keep hopes alive for participating in the U17 World Cup.

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