Zurich, 21 May 2026 – On the evening of May 21, FIFA held the official draw ceremony for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026 in Zurich, Switzerland. U17 Vietnam were drawn into Group G alongside U17 Mali, U17 Belgium, and U17 New Zealand.
Among Vietnam’s group-stage opponents, U17 Belgium are considered one of Europe’s strongest youth sides thanks to their technical quality and modern tactical approach. Meanwhile, U17 Mali entered the draw as a Pot 1 team, underlining the growing reputation of African youth football on the global stage.
The 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations is still ongoing, and Mali have already secured a place in the knockout stage after finishing second in their group with five points. They are set to face U17 Senegal next, giving coach Cristiano Roland and his staff valuable opportunities to study and analyze one of Vietnam’s key rivals.
The remaining team in Group G is U17 New Zealand, the reigning OFC U17 champions after defeating U17 New Caledonia 2-0 in the regional final.
Speaking after the draw, Vietnam Football Federation Vice President Tran Anh Tu described the group as highly competitive, featuring representatives from Africa, Europe, and Oceania — regions known for physical strength, technical quality, and extensive international experience.
“However, qualifying for the FIFA U17 World Cup itself is already a historic and proud achievement for Vietnamese football. More importantly, this tournament will provide valuable opportunities for our young players to mature, gain experience, and prove themselves on the biggest U17 stage in world football,” Tran Anh Tu emphasized.
According to the VFF Vice President, participation in the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 is significant not only for the current generation of players but also for future youth teams in Vietnam. He believes the achievement will inspire upcoming generations to aim for the world stage and help build a stronger foundation for the national team in the future.
Tran Anh Tu also stressed that preparation for the tournament will be extremely important in the coming months. Based on the technical plan already developed, the VFF will continue working closely with the coaching staff to provide the team with the best possible conditions for training camps, international friendlies, and professional development in terms of tactics, fitness, and competitive mentality before the tournament begins.
“We believe U17 Vietnam, with the best preparation possible, will showcase a positive image of Vietnamese youth football at the FIFA U17 World Cup,” he added.
The FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026 will take place from November 19 to December 13 with the participation of 48 teams divided into 12 groups. Teams will play a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group along with the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
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