A historic milestone for Vietnam U17

In the early hours of May 14th, the Vietnam U17 team made a memorable mark for the country's youth football by defeating the UAE U17 team 3-2 in the final match of Group C, securing a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship and a spot in the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup.

The Vietnamese U17 players celebrate their victory. Photo: AFC

Following the journey of the Vietnam U17 team in this year's tournament, Coach Nguyen Chi Thien of Can Tho youth football analyzed: "Advancing through the group stage of the Asian tournament shows the remarkable maturity of the players. The Vietnam U17 team displayed an energetic playing style, quick transitions, and confident fighting spirit against strong Asian opponents. The players possess fairly good technique, flexible teamwork, and persistent fighting spirit."

In the decisive match on the morning of May 14th, the Vietnam U17 team entered the game with confidence against an opponent considered superior in physique and strength. Coach Cristiano Roland's players played proactively, organizing aggressive pressing and constantly putting pressure on the UAE defense. The exciting attacking game continued throughout the 90 minutes, with many high-speed exchanges of attacks.

A commendable aspect of the Vietnam U17 team was their ability to maintain composure during difficult moments. Despite being repeatedly pressured by their opponents, the young players remained cohesive and capitalized on opportunities to score three crucial goals. The 3-2 victory not only secured Vietnam U17's place in the quarterfinals but also marked an impressive return of Vietnamese youth football to the continental stage.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Danh, Vice President of the Can Tho City Football Federation, stated: "The current results of the Vietnam U17 team are the culmination of a long-term strategy guided by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). The players are performing very well, with tactical thinking approaching continental standards. This result is a well-deserved reward, promising a bright future for Vietnamese football."

One of the positive signs is that many players have shown long-term development potential. Not only do they play with enthusiasm, but players like Xuan Hoa, Anh Hao, Dang Khoa, Manh Cuong, Hoang Viet, Minh Thuy, Quy Vuong, Nguyen Luc, Sy Bach, Van Duong, Dai Nhan… also demonstrate modern tactical thinking and confidence in ball handling. This is rarely seen in previous Vietnamese youth teams when facing West Asian or East Asian representatives.

Qualifying for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 opens up a valuable opportunity for young players to gain international experience, while also boosting confidence in Vietnam's youth football development in recent years. According to Coach Nguyen Chi Thien, the achievement of the Vietnam U17 team provides great motivation for youth football training in localities such as Can Tho.

This is the second time a Vietnamese youth football team has qualified for the World Cup, following the first time in 2016 with the U19 team including Quang Hai, Duc Chinh, Van Hau, Tien Dung, Tran Thanh, etc. Nguyen Hoang Quyen, a football fan in Can Tho, expressed: "It's very touching and joyful that Vietnamese football once again has a team participating in the World Cup."

From a team that wasn't highly rated before the tournament, the Vietnam U17 team is writing an emotional story with their courageous fighting spirit and desire to prove themselves. The road ahead is still full of challenges, but what the young team has shown has given much hope for the future of Vietnamese football.

The 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals will feature 16 teams divided into 4 groups. The top two teams from each group, along with Qatar (the host nation), will qualify for the World Cup, which will take place from November 19th to December 13th, with 48 teams participating.
The four group winners are Saudi Arabia (Group A), Japan (B), Vietnam (C), and Uzbekistan (D). The four runners-up are Tajikistan (A), China (B), South Korea (C), and Australia (D). Vietnam U17 is the 20th team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to participate in the U17 World Cup.

PEACE

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/dau-moc-lich-su-cua-u17-viet-nam-a204603.html