Vietnam U17 defeats UAE U17 to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.

In the early hours of May 14th, the Vietnam U17 team defeated UAE 3-2 in their final group stage match, securing their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championship and a ticket to the U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Entering the final group stage match of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship, the Vietnam U17 team only needed a minimum of one point against the UAE U17 team to determine their own fate. However, coach Cristian Roland's team brilliantly accomplished the task and even exceeded the set target, writing a new chapter in the history of Vietnamese youth football.

Vietnam U17 team secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championship and a ticket to the U17 World Cup. Photo: AFC.

The match started surprisingly well, with the UAE U17 team taking the lead in the very first minute.
Following a lightning-fast attack after the opening whistle, Sultan Al Mheiri unleashed a cool shot from inside the penalty area, beating goalkeeper Ly Xuan Hoa. After scoring early, the West Asian representatives proactively retreated into a defensive formation. This allowed the Vietnam U17 team to control the game and repeatedly besiege the opponent's goal. Although Nguyen Van Duong and Nguyen Minh Thuy missed a few unfortunate opportunities, the efforts of the red-shirted team were finally rewarded in the 41st minute.
From a free kick just outside the 16.5-meter line, Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc unleashed a shot that nestled into the far corner, leveling the score at 1-1.

In the second half, the momentum was maintained, allowing Vietnam U17 to quickly take the lead. In the 47th minute, Nguyen Van Duong scored with a precise close-range finish to make it 2-1. The drama continued when UAE U17 equalized in the 56th minute with a long-range shot from Adam Mahrous. However, just 13 minutes later, Nguyen Manh Cuong shone with a header from a corner kick, securing a 3-2 victory.

With this result, Vietnam U17 finished the group stage with 6 points, excellently securing first place in Group C and ranking above South Korea U17. Le Sy Bach and his teammates' next opponent in the quarter-finals will be Australia U17. More importantly, this victory officially marks Vietnam U17's first-ever appearance at the U17 World Cup, which will take place from November 19th this year.

At the upcoming world- level tournament, Vietnamese football will have the honor of participating alongside eight other Asian representatives, including Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ha-u17-uae-u17-viet-nam-lan-dau-gianh-ve-du-world-cup-456544.html