Vietnam U17 women's team wins ticket to 2026 Asian Finals

The Vietnam U17 women's team has won a ticket to the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship Finals after two wins in the qualifying round at home.

Vietnam U17 women's team (red shirt) in the victory over Hong Kong - Photo: ANH KHOA

On the afternoon of October 17, the Vietnam U17 women's team defeated the Hong Kong U17 women's team 1-0 in the final round of Group D of the 2026 Asian U17 Women's Championship at Go Dau Stadium (Thu Dau Mot Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), thereby winning a ticket to the Final Round.

Before the match that decided the top spot in the group and the only ticket to the Final Round, both the U17 women's team of Vietnam and the U17 women's team of Hong Kong had 3 points after the victory over U17 women of Guam. However, U17 women of Hong Kong temporarily ranked higher due to a better goal difference (7/1 compared to 5/0).

Having to win to qualify for the next round, the Vietnam U17 women's team entered the match with great determination. However, the Hong Kong U17 women's team also showed that they were not weak. In the first 10 minutes, the Hong Kong women's strikers forced goalkeeper Cam My to make two excellent saves.

Vietnam U17 women's team celebrates winning ticket to Asian Finals - Photo: ANH KHOA

But after a period of being pressured, the Vietnam U17 women's team gradually regained control of the game, controlled the midfield well and organized many sharp attacks.

In the 30th minute, Hong Thai headed the ball dangerously, forcing goalkeeper Yau Hazel to dive to save it. In the following minutes, Phuong Thao, Phuong Nghi, Minh Anh and Thao Nguyen all had dangerous shots but could not score.

In the second half, coach Okiyama Masahiko made a series of personnel changes to increase the attacking power of the Vietnam U17 women's team.

The pressure was constantly created on the Hong Kong U17 women's field. As a result, in the 67th minute, that effort was rewarded with a goal. Hai Yen accelerated strongly, passed two opposing defenders before firing an accurate diagonal shot to open the score for the Vietnam U17 women's team.

With the goal, the Vietnamese girls continued to maintain the initiative, creating more opportunities but could not increase the gap. However, 1-0 was enough for the U17 women's team of Vietnam to win, thereby completing the qualifying round with 2 wins and a ticket to the Final Round.

The 5th Vietnamese team to qualify for the finals in 2025

This achievement helps the Vietnam U17 women's team become the 5th Vietnamese football team this year to qualify for the continental finals, thereby affirming the strong progress and synchronous development of the national youth teams.

Previously, 4 teams won tickets to the continental finals: Vietnam U20 women's team, Vietnam women's team, Vietnam futsal team and Vietnam U23 team.

NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/u17-nu-viet-nam-gianh-ve-du-vong-chung-ket-chau-a-2026-20251017191858016.htm