Before the start of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals, U17 Yemen did not have the expected preparation process.
In fact, U17 Yemen only gathered from mid-April before going to Saudi Arabia on April 25. The short time frame makes this team not have many conditions to improve their expertise as well as assemble the squad.
Recent friendly matches of U17 Yemen also did not bring positive results. In the latest match in Jeddah, this team lost 1-2 to U17 Uzbekistan. U17 Yemen's ability to defend and maintain the intensity of play revealed many limitations when facing opponents with high ball speed.
In addition to professional issues, U17 Yemen also suffered significant personnel losses. The team's coaching staff once expected to call up 6 more young players playing in Saudi Arabia to improve the quality of the squad. However, the unsuccessful plan left Yemen missing many important options before the opening day.
At this year's tournament, U17 Vietnam is in Group C with U17 Korea, U17 UAE and U17 Yemen. Among the opponents, U17 Yemen is considered a team with similar level to coach Cristiano Roland's team, especially in the competition for second place in the group.
The 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals take place from May 5 to 23 in Saudi Arabia. This is not only a continental playground for youth teams but also a direct qualifying round for the 2026 U17 World Cup.
According to regulations, the top two teams in each group will enter the quarterfinals and win tickets to the U17 World Cup. If host Qatar passes the group stage, an additional spot will be awarded to the third-placed team with the best performance.
According to the schedule, U17 Vietnam will face U17 Yemen in the first match of Group C on May 7. The result of this match is likely to directly affect the opportunity to compete for a ticket to the quarterfinals for both teams.
