U22 Vietnam departs for CFA Team China

The group of players departs from Noi Bai airport, Hanoi. (Photo: VFF) — The group of players departed from Noi Bai airport, Hanoi . (Photo: VFF)

The tournament brings together four U22 teams including Vietnam, Uzbekistan, South Korea and China, and is considered a playground with high professional quality, and at the same time, an important preparation step towards the 2026 U23 Asian Finals and the 33rd SEA Games.

According to the assignment of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Football Federation Executive Committee, Vice President Tran Anh Tu takes on the role of Head of the Delegation. Assistant Dinh Hong Vinh continues to hold the position of acting head coach while coach Kim Sang Sik focuses on leading the national team to prepare for the match against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Vietnam U22 team consists of 26 players carefully selected through many training sessions. Faces who have played for the national team such as Tran Trung Kien, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac continue to participate, along with the pillars that helped Vietnam U23 win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and qualify for 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.

A notable highlight is the return of striker Bui Vi Hao after a long period of injury treatment. The return of the striker from Becamex Binh Duong club promises to strengthen the attack, especially when U22 Vietnam is aiming to compete for the Gold Medal at SEA Games 33.

Due to the match schedule in round 11 of V-League 2025/26, the Vietnam U22 team was divided into three groups. The first group departed from Hanoi with the coaching staff and 12 players; the second group from Ho Chi Minh City with 8 players; the last group departed on November 11 with the remaining 6 players.

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

This is expected to be a big challenge for acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team. However, with a stable physical foundation and form when most of the players are playing regularly in the V-League, U22 Vietnam is expected to have a positive performance at the Panda Cup 2025.

The team's biggest goal at the tournament is to accumulate international competition experience, perfect their playing style and evaluate their personnel, creating a premise for the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Finals.