At Noi Bai International Airport, representatives of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) presented flowers and congratulated the whole team after a successful journey. The regional championship is considered a worthy reward for the efforts of coach Cristiano Roland and his team, and also shows the clear progress of Vietnamese youth football.
Speaking at the airport, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu acknowledged the fighting spirit, discipline and efforts of the players throughout the tournament. VFF leaders also emphasized that the achievements in the Southeast Asian arena are a step in the long-term development roadmap, towards building a successor force for the national team.
Winning the regional championship is a positive sign, but the ultimate goal is still bigger playgrounds," Mr. Nguyen Van Phu emphasized, while reminding players to continue to maintain their desire and concentration as challenges at the continental and world levels are ahead.
In response, coach Cristiano Roland said that the championship is the motivation for the whole team to continue striving, and affirmed that U17 Vietnam will quickly shift to the important goal of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals.
Over the past time, U17 Vietnam has maintained an impressive form with a 16-match unbeaten streak, including 12 wins. The team scored 59 goals and conceded only 4 times, showing a balance between attack and defense - an important factor when stepping out into the continental arena.
Immediately after returning, the whole team moved to the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center to continue training. The preparation time is running out, requiring players to maintain the best condition.
According to the plan, the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals will take place in Saudi Arabia from May 5 to May 23 with the participation of 16 teams. U17 Vietnam is in Group C with opponents U17 Korea, U17 UAE and U17 Yemen.
According to the schedule, U17 Vietnam will successively meet U17 Yemen (May 7th), U17 South Korea (May 10th) and U17 UAE (May 14th). Coach Cristiano Roland's team will depart for Saudi Arabia in the early morning of May 1st, ready for the goal of going deep and aiming for a spot in the 2026 U17 World Cup.
