U17 Vietnam has identified the opponents in the 2026 U17 World Cup finals after the draw took place on the evening of May 21. Coach Cristiano Roland's team is in Group G with U17 Mali, U17 Belgium and U17 New Zealand.
This is the first time U17 Vietnam has participated in the world arena after passing the group stage of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. The group stage of the Southeast Asian representative is considered highly difficult when it gathers teams from many different developed football backgrounds.
Sharing about the draw results, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu said: "U17 Vietnam's group at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 is considered highly competitive with the participation of representatives from Africa, Europe and Oceania. These are all football nations with good professional quality, rich physical strength and international competition experience.
According to VFF leaders, winning a ticket to participate in the tournament is already an important milestone for Vietnamese youth football.
This will be a valuable opportunity for young players to continue to mature, accumulate experience and affirm their bravery in the world's largest football playground for the U17 age group," the VFF Vice President emphasized.
After the draw ceremony, Mr. Tran Anh Tu said he would continue to invest in the team's preparation process.
The Vietnam Football Federation determines that the preparation for the U17 Vietnam team in the coming time is of particular importance. Based on the professional plan built, VFF will continue to closely coordinate with the coaching staff to create the best conditions for the team to train and compete internationally," Mr. Tu added.
The 2026 U17 World Cup takes place in Qatar with the participation of 48 teams. This is also the first time the tournament has applied the expanded format and is organized annually.
