In the match taking place in the early morning of May 14 (Vietnam time), U17 Vietnam had an unfavorable start when they conceded early. However, the young players still maintained their composure, played resiliently and organized a reasonable playing style to create an emotional comeback.
With important goals in the second half, the red shirt team won the overall victory 3-2 against the opponent. This result helped coach Cristiano Roland's team close the group stage with the top spot in Group C with 6 points, thereby winning the right to enter the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship.
More importantly, this victory also officially brought home a ticket to participate in the 2026 U17 World Cup - a historical milestone for Vietnamese youth football at the world level.
Immediately after the match, many opinions from Southeast Asian media, especially Indonesia, highly appreciated the performance of U17 Vietnam, emphasizing that this is a remarkable achievement in the development journey of Southeast Asian youth football. The team was recognized for showing significant bravery when overcoming great pressure in the decisive match.
Some assessments say that U17 Vietnam has created an important milestone when it won the right to participate in the U17 World Cup for the first time, while affirming its position as one of the impressive representatives in the region. This achievement is considered to be superior to the team's previous participations in the continental arena.
In addition, U17 Vietnam is also considered a team with clear progress in tactics, fighting spirit and adaptability in difficult times. Continuously overcoming challenges in the group stage shows the maturity of the current generation of players.
The victory against U17 UAE is not only meaningful in terms of achievements, but also opens up new expectations for Vietnamese youth football in its international integration journey. This is considered an important stepping stone for the team to continue to aim for higher goals at this year's tournament.
This success also reflects the long-term investment orientation for youth football, contributing to building a sustainable development foundation for future national team levels.
