Vietnam U17: World Cup qualification is not the ultimate goal.

Goal: Qualify for the U17 World Cup

The Vietnam U17 team entered the Asian tournament with a clear objective: to qualify for the U17 World Cup, even if they were drawn into a group with South Korea U17, Yemen U17, and UAE U17.

With the number of World Cup qualifying spots now expanded, simply getting past the group stage would secure a place on the world stage for coach Roland and his team.

Vietnam U17 participates in the Asian Championship with the goal of qualifying for the U17 World Cup.

This is not a unrealistic expectation; looking back at the journey so far, the Vietnam U17 team has shown clear progress in both organizational skills and competitive spirit.

In particular, at the 2025 AFC U17 Championship, drawing against three strong opponents – Japan, UAE, and Australia – clearly demonstrated their maturity. Although they couldn't achieve a breakthrough victory, the way the Vietnam U17 team stood firm under pressure provided many positive signs. More importantly, the young players no longer felt intimidated when facing top football nations in the region.

Therefore, the goal of qualifying for the World Cup is perfectly reasonable, as it is challenging enough to motivate effort while also being within the current capabilities of the team. More importantly, this could be a stepping stone for Vietnamese youth football to assert its position on the continental stage.

But it's not the end.

However, focusing solely on securing a World Cup ticket would be a rather short-sighted view, because the current Vietnam U17 team is not just a youth team, but a generation of players who have received systematic investment and possess great potential for future development.

The most noteworthy aspect lies in the mindset of the game. The young players are being exposed to modern methods of operation, from tactical organization to off-ball handling. This is a crucial foundation for Roland's young players to progress further, rather than just making a temporary impression in a youth tournament.

But that's certainly not the final destination for Coach Roland and his team.

Therefore, expectations for the Vietnam U17 team should not be limited to simply "going to the World Cup". What experts and fans are waiting for is continuous growth and development, so that this generation of players can become pillars for the Vietnam U23 and senior national teams in the future.

Vietnamese football has invested heavily in youth development over the years. What the U17 Vietnam team is currently demonstrating can be seen as the initial "sweet fruit." However, to transform this potential into lasting success, a long-term strategy is needed, where players can continue to hone their skills, compete, and gain experience at higher levels.

In other words, the World Cup should only be a milestone, not a destination, and what the Vietnam U17 team shows so far will contribute to shaping the future of Vietnamese football.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/u17-viet-nam-ve-world-cup-khong-phai-la-dich-den-2511556.html