Gia Lai, 16 April 2026 – Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival 2026 is set to take place in May, featuring strong participation from teams across Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and more. Notably, the tournament—backed by Doan Nguyen Duc—will offer a championship prize of over VND 500 million (approximately $20,000).
On April 16 in Ho Chi Minh City, Doan Nguyen Duc made a high-profile return by officially launching the tournament, which will gather 12 youth teams from leading Vietnamese academies such as Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Hanoi, PVF, Song Lam Nghe An, and Dong Nai.
A key highlight of the event is the strong international presence, with seven foreign teams confirmed, including Jubilo Iwata (Japan), Gangwon State All Stars and Mohyeon (South Korea), Shenzhen (China), Malaysia U14, Chonburi (Thailand), and Khamsay Academy (Laos). This marks the first time the tournament has attracted such a diverse and high-quality international lineup.
The official draw ceremony was jointly conducted by Doan Nguyen Duc and former Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo, in the presence of Tran Quoc Tuan and other key representatives, alongside media and football stakeholders.
The opening match is scheduled for May 11 at Pleiku Arena, one day after Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s final home match of the V.League 1 2025–2026 season. Matches will also be held at training grounds within the HAGL Academy in Ham Rong.
The organization of such a tournament, featuring teams from some of Asia’s strongest football nations, reflects a clear commitment to youth development. It also highlights Doan Nguyen Duc’s enduring passion for football, especially in nurturing young talent.
As emphasized by VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan, the festival provides a valuable platform for young players to gain international experience and supports the long-term development of Vietnamese football.
Despite being a youth competition, the tournament offers impressive rewards, with $20,000 for the champions, $10,000 for runners-up, and $5,000 for third place, along with several individual prizes.
VSN/RPT
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