The 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship takes place in Suzhou (China) from May 1st, gathering many top teams in the region. Before entering the tournament, coach Okiyama Masahiko and his team had a training trip in Japan to improve their expertise and strengthen cohesion in their playing style.
In the group stage, Vietnam U17 women's team played hard and made a professional impression with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 defeat against China U17 women's team. This result helped the team win second place in Group A to participate in the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.
In the knockout round, U17 Vietnam women's team faced U17 Australia women's team. Despite facing many difficulties against opponents who are rated higher in physique, fitness and playing experience, the young Vietnamese players still showed a determined fighting spirit before receiving a 0-2 defeat and stopping at the tournament.
Although they cannot go further, the journey at the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship finals is considered an important stepping stone for Vietnamese youth women's football. Being able to rub against strong opponents from the continent helps players accumulate more international experience, towards long-term goals in the future.
After returning home, the players will join their club to prepare for the 2026 National U16 Women's Championship scheduled for July. This is also the preparation stage for the 2027 Asian U17 Women's Championship qualifiers at the end of this year.
