The 'do or die' battle with Malaysia: In what cases will U.17 Vietnam win the Asian ticket?

Vietnam U17 is holding a big advantage over Malaysia U17, before entering the 'final' match of Group C of the 2026 AFC U17 qualifiers taking place on the evening of November 30.

U.17 Vietnam has the right to self-determination

After a series of 4 impressive matches, the situation of Group C of the 2026 AFC U17 qualifiers has been decided when there is only a direct confrontation between the 2 teams with all wins so far, U.17 Vietnam and U.17 Malaysia.

Both teams are currently holding 12 absolute points after 4 matches. As for U.17 Vietnam, thanks to the big win against weaker opponents, coach Cristiano Roland and his team are leading Group C, holding a big advantage in goal difference. After the 4-0 win over U.17 Macau, U.17 Vietnam has a goal difference of +26 (scored 26 goals, conceded no goals). Meanwhile, U.17 Malaysia, after a narrow 2-1 win over U.17 Singapore, has a goal difference of +20 (scored 21 goals, conceded 1 goal), ranking second in the group.

U.17 Vietnam 4-0 U.17 Macau: Jubilant victory to regain top spot

The life and death match of both teams, broadcast live onFPT Play

Vietnam U17 (white shirt) has won 4 consecutive matches, scored 26 goals and has not conceded any in the 2026 U17 Asian qualifiers.

PHOTO: VFF

According to the tournament rules, only the top team in the group will qualify for the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. Therefore, the right to decide is entirely in the hands of U17 Vietnam. Coach Roland's team only needs a draw against U17 Malaysia to automatically qualify for the continental tournament next year.

Danger factor of U.17 Malaysia

Although U.17 Vietnam is holding a big advantage, coach Cristiano Roland and his students are not allowed to be subjective against a well-organized U.17 Malaysia team with dangerous individuals. Among them, the most prominent factor on the team nicknamed "the Tigers" is striker Iman Danish (number 9). This is a dangerous name that the U.17 Vietnam defense needs to block. He is the main attacking spearhead of U.17 Malaysia, has shown the ability to seize opportunities and score sharp goals. Up to now, Danish has contributed 7 goals for U.17 Malaysia.

Highlight U.17 Malaysia 2-1 U.17 Singapore: Unsuccessful comeback attempt

Iman Danish (9) is a formidable striker of U.17 Malaysia

PHOTO: VFF

Besides Iman Danish, U.17 Malaysia also has Arrayyan Hakeem (number 10), who plays an important role as a link between the midfield and the attack. This player usually plays as a midfielder or supporting striker. He has also contributed 2 goals and many assists for his teammates.

Coach Roland is cautious.

Coach Cristiano Roland gave a warning to the U.17 Vietnam players about the opponent's playing style: "The coaching staff will provide detailed information so that the players can better understand the upcoming opponent." Mr. Roland also paid special attention to the set pieces that U.17 Malaysia has effectively exploited in past matches. With the tense nature of a match not unlike a final, set pieces are sometimes an effective solution to create a turning point. Therefore, U.17 Vietnam must maintain maximum concentration in defense.

The match on November 30 is not only a technical competition but also a psychological battle between U.17 Vietnam and U.17 Malaysia. With home field advantage and the right to decide, U.17 Vietnam has a great opportunity to advance to the AFC U.17 Championship finals taking place in Saudi Arabia in 2026.

7 group winners enter 2026 AFC U17 Championship, not taking the best second-placed team

The 2026 AFC U-17 Championship qualifiers will apply a new competition format: 38 teams will be divided into 7 groups (3 groups of 6 teams, 4 groups of 5 teams). The top 7 teams in each group will qualify for the finals.

In addition, 9 teams were given special permission to go straight to the final round, including host Qatar (host of the 2026 U.17 World Cup) and 8 teams entering the quarterfinals of the 2025 U.17 Asian Cup: Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, North Korea, Tajikistan, Japan, UAE and Indonesia.

As planned, the qualifying matches will take place from November 22 to November 30, while the finals will be held in Saudi Arabia in May 2026. The eight teams with the best results in the finals will represent Asia at the 2026 U.17 World Cup.

Watch Group C of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers, live and in full on FPT Play, at http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dai-chien-mot-mat-mot-con-voi-malaysia-u17-viet-nam-gianh-ve-chau-a-trong-truong-hop-nao-185251129124633377.htm