Nine teams compete for two spots in the finals.

Attending the opening ceremony were Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Education; Mr. Nguyen Duc Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Central Youth Union's School Youth Committee; Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu, Deputy Head of the Central Youth Union's Front Committee, Permanent Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Young Doctors Association; Mr. Tran Van Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Physical Education, Ministry of Education and Training; Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Student Support and Development Center; Mr. Nguyen Van Phu, General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), co-head of the organizing committee; Professor-Doctor Nguyen Trung Viet, Vice Rector of the Water Resources University; Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, member of the VFF Referee Committee, along with leaders from the schools with teams participating in the northern qualifying round.

The opening ceremony was held at the Water Resources University Stadium.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony

Journalist Tran Viet Hung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, member of the Organizing Committee of the tournament (left) and Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Education.

The dance team from the Water Resources University performed at the opening ceremony.

The delegates took a commemorative photo with the football teams.

The 3rd Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament - 2025 THACO Cup is an annual tournament organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper in coordination with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), under the direction of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association. It takes place between the commemoration of the Vietnamese Student and Youth Traditional Day (January 9th) and the celebration of the founding day of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26th) and Vietnam Sports Day (March 27th). This tournament has officially been included in the annual national competition system of the VFF and the Vietnam University Games (VUG).

In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Trung Viet - Vice Rector of the Water Resources University, expressed his delight that the Water Resources University continues to be a partner in the tournament for the third consecutive season as the host team. He expressed confidence that the Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament will continue the successes of the previous two seasons and affirmed that the tournament will continue to be a healthy and beneficial playground for students.

Professor Nguyen Trung Viet delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

In his opening remarks at the northern regional qualifiers, journalist Tran Viet Hung – Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper and member of the Organizing Committee – emphasized: "The Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament is a meaningful sporting event, not only a place for exchange and learning but also an opportunity for students to showcase their talent, youthful energy, and sportsmanship."

Journalist Tran Viet Hung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Member of the Organizing Committee of the competition, delivered the opening speech.

Nguyen Hoang Danh, a player from the Water Resources University, read the oath on behalf of all the players.

Referee Vu Phuc Hoan read the oath on behalf of the refereeing team.

After two highly successful editions, the Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament is entering its third season, eagerly anticipated by universities, colleges, and academies nationwide. The tournament has become a valuable platform for young people to improve their physical fitness, enhance team spirit, and contribute to the community. Through this tournament, we also hope to create an environment where students can connect with each other, learn from each other's experiences, and build positive relationships.

The moment the official tournament ball is handed to a representative of the refereeing team.

BTC presents flowers to express gratitude to the sponsors and partners of the tournament.

Football is the king of sports, bringing powerful and profound emotions. Every match, regardless of the outcome, is a valuable lesson about fighting spirit, teamwork, and relentless effort. I believe that the teams will play their best, giving the audience exciting and dramatic matches, in keeping with the spirit of the tournament: playing beautifully, winning beautifully, and cheering beautifully," journalist Tran Viet Hung emphasized.

This year's tournament features 67 participating teams, including 66 teams competing in the qualifying rounds across 5 regions (the host team, Ton Duc Thang University, automatically qualified for the finals). The northern qualifying round includes 9 teams: the host team, Thuy Loi University; National Economics University; Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports; Dong A University of Technology; Thanh Hoa University of Transport and Tourism; Dai Nam University; Hanoi University of Industry; Vietnam-Hungary University of Industry; and Hanoi University of Business and Technology.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lan, General Director of the KIA and MAZDA Hanoi dealership management board, representing THACO Group - the main sponsor of the 3rd Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament - 2025, Thaco Cup, presented flowers to the players.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong presents flowers to the teams participating in the northern regional qualifying round.

Immediately following the opening ceremony was the opening match between the Water Resources University and Dai Nam University. This opening match was also considered an early final for Group 1 in the northern region, as both teams had reached the play-off round to qualify for the finals in Season 2. At that time, the Water Resources University won the play-off and subsequently became the runner-up, while Dai Nam University lost to the Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports and missed out on a spot in the finals.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tung-bung-khai-mac-vong-loai-tnsv-thaco-cup-2025-phia-bac-9-doi-tranh-2-ve-vck-185241229221126887.htm