U23 International Friendly Tournament – Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026 promises exciting football

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Nguyen Van Y, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Phan Ngoc Tien, Director of the Sports Television Centre under Vietnam Television (VTV) and Co-Head of the Tournament Organising Committee; Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi, Standing Member of the VFF Executive Committee; Mr. Nguyen Tan Anh, VFF Executive Committee Member and CEO of LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC; and Mr. Nguyen Van Phu, VFF General Secretary and Co-Head of the Tournament Organising Committee. Also in attendance were members of the Organising Committee, representatives of VFF departments and affiliated units, and a large number of journalists from media organisations.

Speaking at the ceremony, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu highlighted the significance of the tournament in supporting Vietnam U23’s preparations. It will provide the team with an opportunity to test themselves against international opponents, assess the squad and gain valuable experience ahead of upcoming objectives, including the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028 Qualifiers and the 2027 ASEAN U23 Championship.

The tournament will also allow the coaching staff to review and select players, with a view to identifying suitable candidates for the senior national team as it prepares for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Finals. With the participation of teams from Southeast Asia and across Asia, the competition is expected to deliver exciting matches while providing all participating teams with opportunities to strengthen exchanges and gain international match experience.

Beyond its sporting significance, the U23 International Friendly Tournament – Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026 is also being held in response to National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026, under the theme “Gia Lai – From the Great Forests to the Blue Sea”. Through this international sporting event, the image of Gia Lai, its people, and the province’s cultural and tourism potential will be promoted more widely to people across Vietnam and international visitors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Y, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasised that Gia Lai is not only known for its cultural and tourism strengths but also has a strong sporting tradition, particularly in football. Over the past 20 years, Pleiku Stadium has become a familiar venue with the capacity to host major sporting events.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Y, Gia Lai identifies sport as one of the key resources for promoting socio-economic development, strengthening international exchanges and promoting tourism. Hosting the tournament is in line with the province’s strategy of linking sports development with local image promotion. With the coordination of the VFF and relevant partners, Gia Lai is confident that the tournament will be successfully organised and leave a lasting impression on fans and visitors.

Representing the Tournament Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Nguyen Tan Anh, VFF Executive Committee Member and CEO of LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC, said that during nearly six months of preparation, his organisation had worked closely with the VFF to invite three guest teams – Thailand U23, Singapore U23 and Qatar U23 – to participate in the tournament. Notably, Qatar U23 represents the next generation of a national team that has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, which is expected to enhance the tournament’s technical quality and appeal.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Anh also highlighted Gia Lai’s advantages during the tournament period, when the province enters the season of wild sunflowers, with its gong cultural heritage and the distinctive cool climate of the Central Highlands.

Through the tournament, the Organising Committee hopes to combine sporting activities with tourism promotion, while welcoming fans, visitors and media representatives to Gia Lai to attend and cover the event. Mr. Nguyen Tan Anh affirmed that the Organising Committee would make every effort to work closely with relevant partners to ensure the best possible conditions for the participating teams, match commissioners, referees and fans, thereby providing a positive experience for all delegations and visitors to Gia Lai.

The U23 International Friendly Tournament – Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026 is organised by the VFF in coordination with the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC. All matches will be broadcast live across the FPT Play ecosystem, as well as on Vietnam Television (VTV)’s television channels and digital platforms, bringing the tournament closer to fans.

Under the competition format, the four teams will play in a round-robin format, with each team facing the other three once to determine the final standings. Vietnam U23 will play Thailand U23 at 19:00 on 10 November, Singapore U23 at 19:00 on 12 November and Qatar U23 at 19:00 on 14 November.

Regarding the prize structure, the champions will receive USD 100,000, the trophy and gold medals; the runners-up will receive USD 40,000 and silver medals; and the third-placed team will receive USD 20,000 and bronze medals. Individual and team awards will also be presented, including Best Player (USD 2,000), Top Scorer (USD 1,000), Best Goalkeeper (USD 1,000) and Best Refereeing Team (USD 1,000).