VFF’s President Tran Quoc Tuan meets and encourages Vietnam U17 team ahead of the 2026 ASEAN U17 Championship
On the morning of April 9, Vietnam Football Federation President Tran Quoc Tuan met with and encouraged the Vietnam U17 team ahead of their departure for Group A of the 2026 ASEAN U17 Championship.
14/04/2026 16:37:45
Also attending the meeting were VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, Head of Delegation Luu Quang Dien Bien, head coach Cristiano Roland, along with the entire coaching staff and all U17 players.
At the gathering, VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan once again praised the team’s fighting spirit and efforts in recent times, especially their impressive performance in the AFC U17 qualifiers, where they recorded five consecutive wins, scored 30 goals, and conceded none to secure a place in the finals. This was considered a highly successful campaign, leaving a positive mark on Vietnam’s youth football.
Entering a new phase, the team has been reinforced with several new players. VFF leaders expect the squad to quickly integrate, build strong unity, play cohesively, and maintain both technical consistency and psychological stability.
Emphasizing the significance of the 2026 ASEAN U17 Championship, VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan noted that the regional tournament serves as an important stepping stone toward higher continental ambitions. Competing in Indonesia will also present many challenges, particularly crowd pressure and match conditions, so the team must stay focused, resilient, and maintain a “cool head” in all situations. He also reminded the players of the fighting spirit and achievements of the Vietnam U23 team and the senior national team in recent years as examples to follow.
VFF leaders expect the Vietnam U17 team to strive for strong results in the group stage, aim for qualification to the knockout rounds, and build momentum toward long-term goals such as the AFC finals and the FIFA World Cup.
Representing the VFF General Secretariat, General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu affirmed that they will always accompany and provide the best possible conditions for the team to fulfill their mission, while expressing confidence that the players will perform well at the tournament.
On behalf of the coaching staff, head coach Cristiano Roland expressed his gratitude for the attention and investment from the VFF, affirming that the team will give their all and compete with the highest determination for national pride. Head of Delegation Luu Quang Dien Bien also stated that the team will strive to overcome challenges and stay fully focused on their common goal.
According to the plan, on April 10, the Vietnam U17 team will depart for Indonesia to compete in the 2026 ASEAN U17 Championship, scheduled from April 11 to 23. At the tournament, coach Cristiano Roland’s side are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste.
According to the schedule, Vietnam U17 will open their campaign against Malaysia U17 on April 13, followed by matches against Timor-Leste U17 (April 16) and Indonesia U17 (April 19). The three group winners and the best runner-up will advance to the semifinals.
