AFC approves VFF's proposal, Vietnam U17 opens wide door to compete for World Cup ticket

Vietnam U17 will go to Saudi Arabia to participate in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 with a squad of 26 players, more than usual, to ensure personnel options and aim to advance beyond the group stage.

The Vietnam U17 national team will depart to Saudi Arabia on May 1 to participate in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 with a squad comprising 26 players, three more than the official match registration list per game. This is considered an important preparatory step by coach Cristiano Roland and his team for their continental campaign, where the goal is not only to pass the group stage but also to aim for a ticket to the U17 World Cup.

Bringing 26 players is not a random decision but stems from a proposal by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and some other member federations submitted to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Given the continuous nature of the schedule between the 2026 U17 Southeast Asian Championship and the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, the plan to increase the squad size was quickly approved by the regional and continental football governing bodies.

In reality, Vietnam U17 has just undergone a strenuous journey in the 2026 U17 Southeast Asian Championship and has only a very short break before entering a larger tournament. Having a larger squad will help the coaching staff be more proactive in personnel options, especially in unexpected situations such as injuries, physical overload, or health issues arising before the match.

Although bringing 26 players, according to AFC regulations, each team can only register up to 23 players for each match. This means coach Cristiano Roland will have additional flexible tactical choices depending on each opponent. The list traveling to West Asia is likely to still maintain the core framework that played in the U17 Southeast Asian Championship, ensuring stability in expertise as well as cohesion in playing style.

Names such as Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc, Nguyen Van Duong, Le Sy Bach, or goalkeeper Ly Xuan Hoa continue to be the biggest hopes for Vietnam U17. These are players who have demonstrated important roles recently and are expected to make a difference against strong continental opponents. Composure, speed, and tenacious fighting spirit will be important weapons for the Vietnamese representative.

At the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026, Vietnam U17 is in Group C alongside Yemen U17, South Korea U17, and UAE U17. The team will successively face Yemen at 0:00 on May 7, meet South Korea at 23:00 on May 10, and confront UAE at 0:00 on May 14 (Vietnam time). With a well-prepared squad of 26 players, coach Roland and his team are showing great determination in their journey to conquer the Asian arena.

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