Two Vietnamese national teams compete for World Cup spots in May

Vietnam's U17 and women's U17 teams are both competing in the Asian finals in May aiming to win World Cup berths.

Vietnamese youth football enters an exciting phase as both the U17 men's and women's teams prepare to compete on the continental stage in May 2026. This tournament not only determines the Asian champion but also offers a chance to qualify for the World Cup, a major goal for Vietnamese youth football this year.

For Vietnam's U17 men's team, coach Cristiano Roland and his squad recently gained significant morale by brilliantly winning the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship after a convincing victory over Malaysia in the final. This marks the fourth time Vietnam's U17 team has triumphed in the regional arena, reaffirming its top position in Southeast Asia and boosting confidence ahead of the continental campaign.

At the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia from May 5 to 22, Vietnam's U17 team is in Group C alongside South Korea, Yemen, and UAE. According to the schedule, the team will open against Yemen on May 6, then face South Korea on May 10 and UAE on May 13. This group is considered challenging as all three opponents have strong physical foundations and extensive international experience.

According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals and also secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. Therefore, the most important goal for Vietnam's U17 team is not only to progress deep but first to surpass the group stage. The opening match against Yemen is seen as an "early final," greatly influencing Vietnam's chances of advancing.

In the women's category, Vietnam's U17 women's team also faces a historic opportunity at the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup. The team will begin its campaign against Thailand's U17 women on May 1, followed by matches against host China's U17 women on May 4 and Myanmar's U17 women on May 7. Compared to the men's team, the women's journey is even tougher as they must fiercely compete for every advancement spot.

Under the regulations, Vietnam's U17 women's team must finish the group stage in the top two or among the best-performing third-place teams to reach the quarter-finals. However, to qualify for the 2026 U17 Women's World Cup, the coaching staff and players must advance to the semi-finals. This means both Vietnam's U17 men's and women's teams are pursuing dual goals in May: affirming their status in Asia and continuing the dream of a World Cup for the nation's youth football.

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