Southeast Asian Championship
The U17 Southeast Asian championship of U17 Vietnam came from the thorough preparation of the coaching staff, stable form and fiery fighting spirit of the young players throughout the tournament. Coach Cristiano Roland's team closed the journey with an unbeaten record, including 4 wins and 1 draw.
In the group stage, U17 Vietnam successively defeated Malaysia 4-0, Timor Leste 10-0 and drew with Indonesia 0-0. Entering the knockout round, despite facing U17 Australia who were superior in physical strength and physique, Sy Bach and his teammates had an impressive 2-1 comeback. In the final, when rematching Malaysia, U17 Vietnam also easily won 3-0 to lift the championship cup.
After the tournament, coach Cristiano Roland said: "The players played very well and tried their best. I am really proud of what the whole team has shown. This is a worthy achievement for the preparation and fighting spirit of the players. Applying a new football philosophy in a short time is not easy, but it is the dedication of the players that has created the difference.
One of the factors emphasized throughout the tournament is competitive psychology. According to the Brazilian strategist, helping young players believe in their abilities is important in highly competitive matches.
Vietnamese football has many talents, but sometimes lacks confidence. What is shown on the field is the result of the foundation that we are building. This is not just a victory in a tournament, but a step to create identity for the team" - Mr. Roland analyzed.
After winning the Southeast Asian championship, coach Roland asked the players to stay focused and not let the results just achieved affect long-term goals. He wants his players to maintain stability, instead of considering regional titles as the ultimate goal.
Towards the U17 World Cup ticket
Immediately after the regional tournament closed, U17 Vietnam quickly entered the preparation phase for the 2026 AFC U17 Championship final. According to coach Roland, the 3 group stage matches at the Asian tournament are the important measure, because this is the stage that determines the ticket to participate in the U17 World Cup.
In nearly 2 years of working, Mr. Roland has built a stable foundation for the youth team. U17 Vietnam under his leadership has 15 wins, 7 draws and only lost 2 matches after 22 appearances. The team scored 66 goals and conceded 14 times, showing a balance between attack and defense. These numbers clearly reflect the orientation of proactive play, ball control and organized attack deployment. In the last 2 continental tournaments alone, U17 Vietnam drew 4 matches and lost 2 matches, unable to get through the group stage.
According to the draw results of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals, U17 Vietnam is in Group C with U17 South Korea, U17 UAE and U17 Yemen. This is a highly competitive group when the opponents all possess good physical strength and international experience. South Korea is considered a championship candidate with a systematic training system, while UAE maintains stability at the youth level. Yemen, although not outstanding in achievements, has a physically strong playing style, ready to cause difficulties.
To adapt, U17 Vietnam needs to focus on competition ability, maintaining exercise intensity and tactical discipline. The preparation time is not long - only about 1 week, forcing the coaching staff to prioritize consolidating the defense, while improving fitness to meet the requirements of continuous competition. The schedule also sets out calculations about the peak performance, when the team meets Yemen in the opening match and faces UAE in the final round.
The 2026 AFC U17 Championship takes place in Saudi Arabia from May 7 to 24. 5. The competition format will select the top 8 teams in the groups to enter the quarterfinals, and at the same time win tickets to the U17 World Cup. This makes each group stage match decisive.
