VFF leaders attend the announcement ceremony of the 2026 Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival
On the afternoon of April 16, a press conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City to announce the 2026 Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival, which is scheduled to take place this May at Pleiku Stadium and Ham Rong Training Center.
20/04/2026 10:35:54
Attending the press conference were Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan – President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF); Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc – Chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club; Mr. Park Hang-seo – former head coach of the Vietnam national team and currently Vice President of the Korea Football Association; members of the Festival Organizing Committee, along with numerous representatives from media agencies.
According to the plan, the 2026 Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival will take place from May 11 to 17 at Pleiku Stadium and Ham Rong Training Center. This is one of the highlight events within the National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026, contributing to promoting the image of the locality through sports.
The tournament will feature 12 U14 teams from both domestic and international clubs. Vietnam will be represented by PVF, Song Lam Nghe An, Hanoi FC, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai, and hosts Hoang Anh Gia Lai. In addition, invited teams from across Asia include Jubilo Iwata (Japan), Gangwon FC and Mohyeon (Korea Republic), Shenzhen (China), Chonburi FC (Thailand), Kham Say (Laos), and Malaysia.
The teams will be divided into three groups and compete in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals. The tournament will be played in an 11-a-side format, with a total prize pool exceeding USD 40,000 (over VND 1 billion), of which the champions will receive USD 20,000.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc – Chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club – said that although the club has been involved in professional football since 2001 and has focused on youth development since 2007, this is the first time it has organized an international-scale youth football festival. He expressed his hope that the tournament will become an annual event, providing a high-quality platform for young players and contributing to the overall development of Vietnamese football.
At present, preparations are being urgently finalized by relevant units to ensure the tournament is held on schedule, safely, and effectively. With the participation of many strong youth teams from across the region, the 2026 Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival is expected to deliver exciting and high-quality matches, helping to promote the spirit of sports while showcasing a dynamic, friendly, and culturally rich image of Gia Lai. The tournament also offers opportunities to discover and nurture young talents, thereby contributing to improving the quality of football development at both local and national levels.
