Hanoi, 21 November 2025 – As hosts of Group C in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, U17 Vietnam aim to secure a spot at the finals in Saudi Arabia, with a potentially decisive clash against U17 Malaysia set for 30 November.
U17 Vietnam will begin their AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifying campaign as hosts of Group C, with the decisive match against U17 Malaysia scheduled for the final round. The qualifiers will take place from 22 to 30 November, while the final tournament is set for May 2026 in Saudi Arabia. Group C includes Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Northern Mariana Islands and Macau, giving the Golden Star juniors a crucial advantage by playing on home turf at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center and the PVF Training Center in Hung Yen.
According to the schedule, U17 Vietnam will open their journey against Singapore on 22 November, followed by matches against Northern Mariana Islands on 24 November, Hong Kong on 26 November and Macau on 28 November. The group’s spotlight fixture will be the finale against Malaysia on 30 November, a match that could determine the group winner and the ticket to the finals.
In Vietnam, the qualifiers will be broadcast exclusively by FPT Play, allowing fans to follow U17 Vietnam across all their digital platforms.
At the pre-tournament press conference, head coach Cristiano Roland affirmed that U17 Vietnam have undergone thorough preparation, highlighted by a valuable training camp in Japan which provided beneficial international exposure for the players. He noted that the team’s spirit is high and the entire squad is fully focused on the opening match, with a clear objective of advancing from the group stage to secure a spot at the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026.
Coach Roland also praised the current squad depth, with many players having already participated in last year’s AFC U17 finals and eager to return to the continental stage. However, he stressed that playing five matches in 10 days poses a significant challenge, making recovery management and effective squad rotation essential throughout the campaign.
On the Malaysian side, head coach Javier Jorda stated that his team have prepared extensively throughout the year, including a training camp in Croatia. He acknowledged that Group C is highly competitive and expressed hope that the final match against hosts Vietnam will become the “true final” of the group.
VSN collaborator writer
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