On July 30, the Football Festival U.9, U.11, U.13 Vietnam 2026 with the theme "Starting Passion, Awakening Potential" officially opened at Nha Trang University.
The tournament gathers 44 clubs and community football centers from the three regions North - Central - South, with nearly 1,000 young players competing in a total of 118 matches, taking place from July 30 to August 1, 2026.
This is the first national-scale youth football tournament exclusively for community football centers nationwide organized by Vietnam Sports Solutions Joint Stock Company (VSSG) in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City Police Football Club.
The highlight of the tournament is that the championship titles in all three age groups are named after national heroes, while all 118 matches took place on stadiums named after landmarks associated with outstanding victories in Vietnamese history.
In the U.9 age group (competing 5 people), the teams compete for the Quang Trung Cup. The matches are held at an indoor stadium named Dien Bien Phu.
The two age groups U.11 and U.13 (competing 7 people) respectively competed for the Ly Thuong Kiet Cup and the Tran Hung Dao Cup.
The matches take place on four standard outdoor courts named Bach Dang, Chi Lang, Ngoc Hoi - Dong Da and Rach Gam - Xoai Mut.
According to the Organizing Committee, naming cups and stadiums not only carries symbolic meaning but also contributes to helping young players better understand national history, fostering pride and patriotism through sports.
This year's Festival has 12 U.9 teams (born in 2017-2018) and 32 teams in two age groups U.11 (2015-2016), U.13 (2013-2014).
Each team is guaranteed to play from 5-6 matches to increase opportunities for exchange, accumulate experience and be directly monitored by experts, coaches, scouts of many professional clubs, especially the Ho Chi Minh City Police Football Club.
The tournament does not award cash but only awards cups, medals and badges to reduce the pressure of achievements for young players.
Mr. Tran Huy Duc, Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Director of the Festival project, shared that this is the first national-scale community football tournament for centers and amateur football clubs across the country.
Mr. Duc hopes that the organizers will bring a quality playground, not only in terms of expertise but also a place for children to interact, connect and nurture their love for the round ball.
