The most important thing right now is not to assess how strong the Vietnam U17 team is, but to consider what Vietnamese football will do next with this generation.
The distance is still far.
The Vietnam U17 team has created one of the most memorable journeys in the history of Vietnamese youth football.
The Vietnam U17 team won the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship after defeating Australia U17 in the semi-finals, and then topped their group at the Asian Championship finals, ahead of South Korea U17. This success wasn't due to luck, but rather the result of continuous preparation with 24 training and official matches, and numerous international training camps under the guidance of coach Cristiano Roland.
The 2009-born players of the Vietnam U17 team show a different image compared to many previous generations. They are calmer, have better ball control, know how to organize and put pressure on opponents, and especially, they don't collapse after defeat. The 1-4 loss to South Korea, followed by the team's rise to beat UAE 3-2 and climb to the top of the group to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 U17 Asian Cup, securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, is proof of the difference of today's generation.
The U17 Vietnamese players (left) need proper investment to become professionals in the future. Photo: AFC
Following their victory in the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship and qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the Vietnam U17 team has received considerable praise. From FIFA and AFC to the Southeast Asian media, the Vietnam U17 team is seen as a new phenomenon in the continent. This easily leads fans to believe that Vietnamese football is very close to reaching the top level in Asia.
However, the 0-3 defeat against Australia in the quarter-finals brought everyone back to reality. This wasn't a shameful loss, but a necessary one. The Australian U17 team at the Asian tournament was completely different from the team that lost to Vietnam in Southeast Asia. When fielding their strongest squad and displaying modern football standards, Australia showed the gap that Vietnamese football must strive to close and overcome.
The loss to the Australian U17 team served as a wake-up call: Vietnamese youth football, despite its progress, is still far from the level of football nations capable of competing in the World Cup.
Young talent alone is not enough.
Ten years ago, the Vietnamese U16 team under coach Dinh The Nam also generated high expectations when they defeated Australia and Kyrgyzstan to reach the Asian quarterfinals. They played a free-flowing, technically skilled style of football and boasted many prominent players such as Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong, Nguyen Duy Khiem, and Nguyen Huu Thang.
Looking at the broader picture, the 2000 generation of Vietnamese football includes many players who were once highly regarded, such as Khong Minh Gia Bao, Pham Gia Hung, and Nguyen Hai Long. At that time, many believed they would be the next generation capable of taking Vietnamese football to the next level.
However, much of that talent gradually faded as they entered top-level football. To date, among those born in 2000, only Nguyen Hai Long has a relatively clear position in the national team. A few other names like Viet Cuong or Gia Hung have been given a chance to return, but mainly play a reserve role.
This shows that young talent alone is not enough. The biggest problem for Vietnamese football in recent years has been the period from 17 to 22 years old - the crucial time that determines whether a player can become a professional or not.
Many promising young players don't get regular playing time in the V-League. Without enough high-quality matches each year, and without the opportunity to compete in a truly fierce environment, their talent gradually stagnates. This is a real concern for the current U17 generation.
Don't let yourself be an "outsider".
In reality, even top Asian football nations like Japan and South Korea have had many generations of young players who have failed. After success at the youth level, strong football nations don't stop at mere praise.
In Japan, talented young players are quickly pushed into professional environments, playing in the J-League or abroad. Promising talents at the age of 16, such as Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), and Wataru Endo (Liverpool), all matured thanks to playing at a consistently high intensity from a very young age.
Uzbekistan is another notable example. They invest heavily in academies, maintain a consistent youth system, and provide opportunities for U17 and U20 players to compete professionally. As a result, Uzbekistan is not only strong in youth competitions but is also beginning to establish itself at the national team level. Recently, the Uzbekistan national team qualified for the 2026 World Cup finals, including players who won the 2018 U23 Asian Championship.
Eight years ago, Vietnam only lost to Uzbekistan after 120 minutes in the final of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship. Today, Uzbekistan has officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup, while the Vietnamese team remains an "outsider".
According to experts, youth football and top-level football are two very different worlds . A player may stand out at age 17 thanks to their technique and confidence, but when they reach the professional level, they face pressure to perform, physical challenges, competition for positions with foreign players, and much more complex tactical demands. Without proper development, young talents can easily "never reach their full potential."
Source: https://nld.com.vn/loi-canh-tinh-can-thiet-tu-u17-viet-nam-19626051721232651.htm
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