VFF Leadership encourages and assigns tasks to U19 Vietnam ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Championship
On the morning of May 26, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, representing the VFF leadership, met with, encouraged, and assigned tasks to the Vietnam U19 national team before their departure to participate in the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship in Indonesia.
27/05/2026 10:12:04
Speaking at the meeting, General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu acknowledged the efforts of the coaching staff and players throughout their recent preparations, while emphasizing the important role of the U19 generation in Vietnam’s youth football development strategy. He expressed confidence in the team’s unity, determination, and thorough preparation, with the aim of achieving positive results at the regional tournament and building momentum towards the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The VFF leadership also hopes that Vietnam U19 will continue the success of Vietnam’s youth and national teams – from U17 and U23 to the senior national team – over the past two years, further reinforcing the image and standing of Vietnamese football at both regional and continental levels.
Vietnam U19 have just returned from a training camp in Japan held from May 14 to May 24. During this period, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his players played four friendly matches against U20 and U22 teams from Shizuoka Sangyo University, Tokai Gakuen University, and the reserve team of Shimizu S-Pulse. These practice matches were considered highly valuable from a technical perspective, helping the coaching staff review personnel, refine tactical approaches, and improve the team’s adaptability to the intensity of international competition.
In addition, competing against physically strong, fast, and tactically disciplined opponents provided the young players with valuable experience and gave the coaching staff a stronger basis for evaluating and selecting the most effective squad.
Speaking at the meeting, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi said that the entire team had prepared seriously, both technically and mentally, for the upcoming tournament. The Japanese coach also highly appreciated the support from the VFF, the National Teams Department, and the cooperation of clubs during the process of assembling the Vietnam U19 squad.
However, the team’s preparations have not been without challenges, as several talented players have been unable to join the squad due to their commitments with their parent clubs in the national professional leagues and the National Second Division. In addition, some players born in 2008 have had to balance football training with their academic studies and preparation for the national high school graduation examination.
