Azerbaijan, 24 Oct 2026 – Vietnam U15 suffered a 6-3 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening match at the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan on October 24, but Hoang Anh Tuan’s young side showed determination and encouraging signs of improvement as they adapted to the tournament’s eight-a-side format.
Vietnam faced a difficult start against a physically stronger Bosnia and Herzegovina team, who applied intense pressure from the opening minutes. The European side’s aggressive approach caused problems for Vietnam’s defensive organisation, allowing them to establish a commanding 4-0 advantage during the first half.
Despite the early setback, Hoang Anh Tuan’s players gradually settled into the contest. Their passing combinations became more effective, while improved movement and greater confidence in possession helped them find ways to escape their opponents’ pressure.
Vietnam’s persistence was rewarded late in the first half when they scored from a corner-kick situation, reducing the deficit to 4-1 and providing a much-needed boost before the interval.
The Vietnamese youngsters carried that momentum into the second half, with Van Tai finding the net from another set-piece situation shortly after the restart. His goal brought Vietnam back to 4-2 and gave the team renewed confidence as they attempted to challenge their opponents.
The match subsequently developed into an open attacking contest, with both teams creating opportunities and pushing forward in search of further goals.
Bosnia and Herzegovina extended their advantage to 5-2, but Vietnam responded quickly through Anh Hao, who produced a left-footed finish to narrow the gap to 5-3.
Although the European side eventually added another goal to seal a 6-3 victory, Vietnam continued attacking until the closing stages and created several opportunities despite the three-goal deficit.
The result was disappointing for Hoang Anh Tuan’s squad, but their response after conceding four early goals offered encouragement. The players demonstrated resilience, improved their coordination as the match progressed and showed an increasing understanding of the unfamiliar eight-a-side format.
The FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival 2026 has been designed to prioritise youth development, international experience and technical improvement. Its modified playing format encourages greater involvement in possession, quicker decision-making and increased opportunities for young players to express their creativity.
For Vietnam, the opening fixture provided valuable lessons in defensive organisation, coping with physical pressure and adapting to opponents with different playing styles.
The coaching staff will now look to build on the positive aspects of the performance while addressing the defensive weaknesses exposed during the opening stages.
Vietnam U15 will return to action on October 25 with two scheduled fixtures, facing Brunei at 1:15 p.m. Vietnam time before meeting Mauritius at 8:00 p.m.
The upcoming matches will provide further opportunities for Hoang Anh Tuan’s players to gain international experience, improve their tactical understanding and build confidence as they continue their campaign in Azerbaijan.
Although Vietnam began the tournament with a defeat, their three-goal response against Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrated the determination of a young squad still learning to compete in a new international environment.
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