Vietnam U17 arrives in Jeddah, quickly adjusting their circadian rhythm and recovering their physical condition
After departing from Hanoi at 2:00 AM on May 1 and transiting in Doha, the Vietnam U17 national team arrived in Jeddah at 10:00 AM local time the same day (2:00 PM Vietnam time), officially beginning their final preparation phase for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup.
05/05/2026 18:21:27
According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations, the official activities of the tournament do not commence until May 3. However, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) proactively arranged for the team to arrive two days early. This allows head coach Cristiano Roland and his players sufficient time to adjust their circadian rhythms, adapt to the time zone difference, and get acclimated to the weather and pitch conditions in the host country. All expenses incurred from this early arrival are covered by the VFF, demonstrating their commitment to providing the best possible conditions for the team.
Despite not being part of the AFC’s official schedule, the local organizing committee gave Vietnam U17 a warm welcome and arranged accommodations at the Mövenpick Hotel Jeddah, located approximately 15 minutes by bus from the airport. This will serve as the team’s official hotel throughout the tournament. Notably, this was also the base for Vietnam U23 during the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, a tournament where the team successfully reached the third-place play-off.
Immediately after settling in, the team had a nutritious lunch. The U17 players then returned to their rooms to rest and recover. Later that afternoon, according to the schedule, the players hit the gym and took part in recovery sessions in the pool to regain their physical fitness.
Head coach Cristiano Roland has placed a high priority on solutions that help the team quickly adapt to the living and training environment in Jeddah. This approach aims to establish the best possible physical and mental foundation before the team begins tactical drills on the pitch, heading towards their opening match against U17 Yemen in the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup.
