How strong are Vietnam U17's three opponents in the World Cup?

Of the three opponents, the Mali U17 team is considered the most formidable. The African representative boasts a superior track record with 8 appearances in the tournament, including 3 consecutive times. They were runners-up in 2015 and finished third in 2023. In the most recent World Cup, the Mali U17 team was eliminated in the quarter-finals but is still highly regarded for its physical fitness, speed, and powerful playing style.

However, compared to the "giants" like Brazil, France, or Argentina in the top seed group, Mali can still be considered a more manageable opponent for the Vietnam U17 team.

Vietnam U17 is in the same group as Mali, Belgium, and New Zealand. Photo: VFF.

Vietnam U17's second opponent is Belgium U17, a team in the second seeded group. This powerful European team has a strong senior national team but has only participated in the U17 World Cup four times. Belgian football isn't particularly outstanding at the U17 level, but it boasts a modern and stable youth development system.

In the qualifying rounds, Belgium displayed impressive form, defeating Switzerland 2-1 and Serbia 4-3 to top their group. These results showed that they not only controlled the game well but also had the ability to create breakthroughs at crucial moments. Belgium's best performance was third place at the 2015 U17 World Cup. At the continental level, Belgium's U17 team reached the semi-finals, however, the European U17 Championship finals have not yet taken place this year.

The final opponent, U17 New Zealand (seeded in group 4), has participated in the U17 World Cup 12 times, including 10 consecutive appearances. Their best performance was advancing beyond the group stage in 2009, 2011, and 2015. However, their regular participation in this tournament has allowed New Zealand to accumulate considerable experience. In continental competitions, they have won the U17 World Cup 10 times in a row.

Disciplined play, good physical condition, and consistency are factors that make this team difficult to beat. Being in the same group as these teams presents both opportunities and challenges for coach Cristiano Roland and his players.

In theory, all three teams are in a higher seed group, stronger, and more experienced than Vietnam U17. However, the draw is still considered relatively easy, as none of the three teams come from the world 's "elite" football nations, and none have ever won the U17 World Cup. This is seen as a "chance" draw for Vietnam U17.

The 2026 U17 World Cup will take place from November 19th to December 13th in Qatar. The specific schedule has not yet been announced by FIFA, but even now, analyzing the opponents is a crucial step in preparing the Vietnam U17 team for the biggest youth tournament.

Source: https://znews.vn/3-doi-thu-cua-u17-viet-nam-o-world-cup-manh-co-nao-post1653177.html