U22 Vietnam departs for Panda Cup 2025: An important step forward for SEA Games 33

The tournament was organized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in Chengdu (Sichuan province, China), from November 12 to 18, with the participation of four U22 teams including Vietnam, Uzbekistan, South Korea and host China.

This is a playground with high professional quality, a valuable opportunity to compete, helping the U22 Vietnam coaching staff continue to perfect the squad, test personnel and tactics, towards the 2026 AFC U23 Championship; at the same time, it is an important stepping stone in the sprint phase towards the 33rd SEA Games.

According to the assignment of the Standing Committee of the VFF, Vice President Tran Anh Tu takes on the role of Head of the Vietnam U22 team participating in the tournament. Assistant Dinh Hong Vinh continues to be assigned the role of Acting Head Coach, while Head Coach Kim Sang Sik is busy leading the National Team to prepare for the second leg against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

In terms of strength, the U22 Vietnam team gathers the best players who have been carefully selected through many training sessions and international competitions. Many faces who have worn the national team jersey continue to participate such as Tran Trung Kien, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, alongside the pillars who have contributed significantly to the journey to win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and win tickets to the 2026 Asian U23 Finals such as Nguyen Phi Hoang, Nguyen Xuan Bac, Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Ngoc My, Pham Ly Duc...

Notably, striker Bui Vi Hao returned after a long period of injury treatment. The return of the striker from Becamex Binh Duong Club, who has played for the national team many times, promises to help increase the attacking power and experience of the U22 Vietnam strikers in the journey to prepare to conquer the Gold Medal of SEA Games 33.

Due to many players still having to compete in Round 11 of LPBank V.League 2025/26, the Vietnam U22 team was divided into three groups to travel to China. Group 1 departed from Hanoi, including the coaching staff and 12 players from the clubs PVF-CAND, The Cong Viettel, Becamex TP.HCM, SLNA,SHB Da Nang and Hai Phong.

Group 2 departed from Ho Chi Minh City with 8 players from HAGL, Dong A Thanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City Police and Ninh Binh. Group 3 departed a day later, including 6 players from Hanoi FC, CAHN and Hong Linh Ha Tinh.

According to the schedule, the Vietnam U22 team will have only one training session on the afternoon of November 11 to complete preparations before the match against China U22 at 2:30 p.m. (Vietnam time) on November 12.

This is a big challenge for Acting Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team. However, with the advantage of most players maintaining their performance in the V.League and having trained together through many training sessions since the end of 2024, the U22 Vietnam team is expected to enter the competition confidently and achieve high professional efficiency in this quality international tournament.