Kuala Lumpur, 10 November 2025 – AFC has officially announced the draw results for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026, with Vietnam placed in Group A alongside host nation Thailand, China, and Bangladesh — a group considered relatively favorable for the young Vietnamese squad.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently released the official group draw for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Finals, which will take place in Thailand from April 1 to April 18, 2026. The draw brought good news for Vietnam’s U20 women’s team, as they were placed in a manageable Group A together with Thailand (hosts), China, and Bangladesh.
This group is regarded as fairly balanced, offering a promising opportunity for the young Vietnamese side to compete for a place in the knockout stage. Both China and Thailand are strong regional opponents, while Bangladesh is viewed as an underdog, giving Vietnam a realistic chance to advance.
Meanwhile, Group B features North Korea, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Jordan, while Group C consists of Japan, Australia, Chinese Taipei, and India.
The AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will feature 12 participating teams, divided into three groups of four. Each group will play a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The four semifinalists will not only compete for the continental title but will also qualify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Poland.
For Vietnam, this tournament marks a key milestone in developing the next generation of women’s football talent. The draw outcome gives coach Akira Ijiri and his players optimism as they aim to make history by reaching the semifinals and earning a spot at the U20 Women’s World Cup for the first time.
With more than four months remaining before the finals, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is expected to arrange several training camps and international friendlies to strengthen the team’s preparation and ensure the best possible performance at the continental stage.
David Toh
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