Vietnam U23 to face arch-rivals Thailand at Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026 International U23 Football Tournament
Vietnam U23 will compete in the Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026 International U23 Football Tournament, scheduled to take place from 10 to 14 November 2026 at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province.
U23 Vietnam and U23 Thailand in their most recent meeting at the CFA Team China 2026 tournament
The tournament is organised by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in cooperation with the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club. In addition to Vietnam U23, the competition will feature three invited teams: Thailand U23, Qatar U23 and Singapore U23. The four teams will compete in a single round-robin format to determine the final standings.
According to the schedule, Vietnam U23 will face arch-rivals Thailand U23 in the opening match at 19:00 on 10 November. The team will then take on Singapore U23 at 19:00 on 12 November, before concluding their campaign against Qatar U23 at 19:00 on 14 November.
Vietnam U23 are expected to regroup on 8 November to prepare for the tournament. With the participation of quality U23 teams from Southeast Asia and across Asia, the competition will provide Vietnam U23 with an opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition, assess the squad and gain valuable experience ahead of their upcoming objectives, including the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028 Qualifiers.
Beyond its sporting significance, the tournament will also contribute to activities marking National Tourism Year – Gia Lai 2026, under the theme “Gia Lai – From the Great Forests to the Blue Sea”, helping promote the province’s landscapes and people to domestic and international audiences. It will also give football fans in Gia Lai and neighbouring localities an opportunity to watch Vietnam U23 in action and enjoy international football at the stadium.
In terms of prize money, the champions will receive USD 100,000, along with the trophy and gold medals. The runners-up will be awarded USD 40,000 and silver medals, while the third-placed team will receive USD 20,000 and bronze medals. Individual 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).
