China, 11 November, 2025 – On the afternoon of November 11 (local time), acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh attended the pre-tournament press conference for the CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province (China), expressing gratitude for the warm reception and confidence in U22 Vietnam’s preparation ahead of the competition.
The CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025 officially kicks off in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, bringing together four of Asia’s strongest youth football teams — China, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. During the pre-tournament press conference held on the afternoon of November 11, acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh represented the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the U22 Vietnam national team, extending appreciation to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for their warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements for the Vietnamese delegation upon arrival.
Speaking about the competition’s quality, coach Dinh Hong Vinh emphasized that the Panda Cup remains one of the most competitive youth tournaments in Asia, providing invaluable international exposure for participating teams. “This tournament brings together top young teams from the continent. Alongside hosts China, the presence of Uzbekistan and South Korea — both of whom we’ve met earlier this year — ensures a high level of competition,” he said.
The Vietnamese coach also recalled the team’s previous encounters at the international friendly event hosted by CFA in March 2025. “At that tournament, U22 Vietnam drew 1-1 with South Korea, 0-0 with Uzbekistan, and 1-1 with China. Those matches were extremely valuable experiences that helped our players mature significantly. They laid the foundation for our later success at the 2025 AFF U23 Championship and the perfect qualifying campaign for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup,” he noted.
Coach Dinh Hong Vinh hopes that facing such strong opposition again will serve as an important stepping stone for U22 Vietnam to refine their playing style and build cohesion ahead of two major targets — the SEA Games 33 and the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Finals.
Addressing the challenges in preparation, he admitted the team had limited time to assemble the full squad due to overlapping V.League 1 2025/26 fixtures. “As of this afternoon, we finally have a complete squad, with six players only just joining us after finishing their club duties. However, since the team has maintained consistent training camps since late 2024, this is not a major issue. We are determined to perform well, achieve strong tactical efficiency, and use this tournament as a vital final tune-up before the SEA Games,” he shared.
According to the schedule, U22 Vietnam will hold their first full training session this afternoon in Sichuan. Earlier, upon arrival, the coaching staff organized light recovery exercises within the hotel premises to help players regain fitness after a long journey.
The Panda Cup 2025 promises to be an essential test for U22 Vietnam, both in tactical refinement and mental readiness, as the team continues its pursuit of regional glory at the SEA Games 33 in December.
Hong Duyen
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