Also attending the meeting were Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra; Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Dang Xuan Phong and leaders of ministries and sectors.
The Prime Minister awarded Certificates of Merit to the U17 Vietnam team, and praised the impressive performance of the young players.
According to the Prime Minister, the U17 Southeast Asian championship was created from a convincing journey with 4 wins, 1 draw and 19 goals. "This confirms that Vietnamese youth football today not only knows how to play but also knows how to control the match and has made the championship victory," the Prime Minister shared.
The Prime Minister assessed that the above achievements are the result of the persistent training and practice of many generations of players and coaches; the concern of families, fans and the investment of all levels and sectors, especially in the fields of culture, sports and tourism.
According to the Prime Minister, the victory is not only of sports significance but also reflects the qualities of Vietnamese people in the new period such as bravery, discipline, solidarity and aspiration to rise up. The Prime Minister believes that the team will continue to promote this spirit to aim for bigger goals.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasized that the regional championship is a favorable start, but not the final destination. The team needs to continue to strive to aim for higher goals, reach the Asian level and gradually affirm its position on the world football map.
U17 Vietnam is expected to participate in the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals, and also the U17 World Cup qualifiers. The Prime Minister requested the coaching staff and players to continue training with higher requirements, maintaining a determined, honest and noble fighting spirit.
In addition, the Prime Minister requested the Vietnam Football Federation and relevant agencies to continue to improve the youth training system towards professionalism, modernity and expand international cooperation. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant units are assigned to research and improve mechanisms and policies, invest in facilities, apply science and technology and sports medicine to improve training quality.
The Prime Minister affirmed that the Government will continue to accompany and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese sports and football to develop professionally and modernly, contributing to enhancing the national position in the international arena.
Speaking at the meeting, head coach Cristiano Roland, on behalf of the whole team, expressed his honor to receive the attention of Party and State leaders, and considered this a motivation for young players to continue their efforts.
He said that the team's key goal is the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals - a highly competitive tournament and an opportunity to win a ticket to the U17 World Cup. The whole team will focus on preparing, improving expertise and perfecting the playing style to achieve the best results.
