Hanoi, 16 July 2026 – Vietnam have officially been confirmed as one of the host nations for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) entrusting the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to stage one of the eight qualifying groups.
The appointment is another recognition of VFF’s proven ability to successfully organize major international tournaments and gives the Vietnam U17 women’s national team the valuable advantage of playing on home soil in their bid to qualify for the continental finals.
Following the official draw on July 16, Vietnam were placed in Group D alongside Kyrgyzstan, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palestine. As the highest-seeded team in the group and the host nation, Vietnam will enter the qualifiers as the favorites to secure top spot.
While the draw appears favorable for the hosts, head coach and players will remain cautious. Kyrgyzstan are expected to provide Vietnam’s toughest test, while both Palestine and the Northern Mariana Islands will also be eager to spring an upset. With only the eight group winners progressing to the final tournament, every match will be crucial.
The qualifying matches will be played in a centralized format from October 5 to 11, 2026, with Vietnam hoping to take full advantage of familiar conditions and home support to book their place at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 in China.
A total of 31 teams will participate in the qualification campaign. China, as hosts of the 2027 finals and one of the four teams that qualified for the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, automatically advance to the final tournament and therefore do not compete in the qualifiers.
Before the draw, Vietnam were placed in Pot 1 alongside South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, and Myanmar, reflecting the team’s growing status in Asian youth women’s football.
Under the AFC competition format, the 31 participating teams have been divided into eight groups—seven groups of four teams and one group of three. Each group will compete in a single round-robin tournament hosted by one of the participating nations, with only the group winners earning qualification for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027.
One notable absentee from the qualifying tournament is Nepal. The Nepal U17 women’s national team was excluded after the country’s football federation remained suspended by FIFA, prompting the AFC to revise the list of participating teams before conducting the draw.
With home advantage, a favorable group, and qualification firmly within reach, Vietnam’s U17 women’s team will be aiming to deliver a strong performance and continue the nation’s rise in Asian women’s football by securing a place at the 2027 continental finals.
VSN/RPT
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