U19 Vietnam is attracting attention in Indonesia and could spring a surprise at the Southeast Asian tournament.

The U19 Vietnam squad landed in Medan, Indonesia, following a two‑flight route from Ho Chi Minh City via Jakarta to take part in the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship.

Before departure, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi had reduced the squad to 25 players. The coaching staff will continue evaluating and finalize the official 23‑player list one day before the opening match.

Speaking ahead of the trip, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi acknowledged that the team’s preparation was challenging due to the domestic league schedule and the high school graduation exams for players born in 2008. He said it was regrettable that the team could not field its strongest lineup as hoped for this tournament.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation, after completing all formalities at Medan airport, the whole team moved to their hotel to rest and get ready for the first training sessions in Indonesia.

Notably, as soon as U19 Vietnam landed at Medan airport, a large number of Indonesian reporters and media were there to film, photograph, and report on the arrival of coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his players. This shows the host media’s great interest in this year’s tournament, especially in teams seen as strong contenders in Group A.

In line with a plan coordinated early by VFF’s relevant departments, the 36‑member U19 Vietnam team completed their journey on schedule. Throughout immigration, transit, and baggage collection, everything went smoothly with no unexpected issues. All team members are in good health and maintained a stable morale after the nearly full‑day trip.

The 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship runs from 1 to 14 June in Indonesia and is considered an important preparation step for U19 Vietnam toward qualifying for the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup. According to the schedule, U19 Vietnam will face U19 Timor Leste on 1 June, U19 Myanmar on 4 June, and U19 Indonesia on 7 June.

All matches of the 2026 U19 Southeast Asian Championship from 1 to 14 June in Indonesia will be broadcast live and in full to fans nationwide on TV360.