What did the assistant coach of Vietnam's youth team say after drawing with PSG and scoring against Barcelona?

Assistant coach Hoang Dinh Tung offered important comments after U16 PVF managed to hold PSG to a draw and scored against Barcelona.

U16 PVF recently had the opportunity to participate in the Alkass International Cup 2026, a prestigious tournament for youth teams held at the Aspire Academy (Qatar). This competition gathers many top academies and professional clubs from Asia and around the world, providing young players a chance to compete in a high-level football environment. Participating in the tournament is significant, helping PVF players gain practical experience and gradually improve their technical skills.

Returning from Qatar, U16 PVF brought back an emotional and valuable journey. Stepping onto a major stage, directly facing the “giants” of world youth football such as PSG and Barcelona is an experience few young players get to have. Although the results were not exactly as hoped, the players’ fighting spirit, competitive courage, and ambition to reach higher left many positive impressions.

In this year’s tournament, U16 PVF played a total of 5 matches. The team secured a 1-1 draw against PSG and narrowly lost to Kashiwa Reysol (1-2), Barcelona (1-3), and Etolie Sportive from Tunisia (0-1). These numbers may not fully reflect the team’s effort, as the more important aspect was the valuable lessons the players gained after each match.

Speaking about the journey at the Alkass International Cup 2026, assistant coach Hoang Dinh Tung candidly said this was a very beneficial tournament for U16 PVF. According to him, facing top youth academies worldwide provided a special experience, helping the coaching staff and players recognize the gap and the demanding standards of elite football.

“From the moment we arrived in Qatar and received the warm welcome from the organizers, the whole team clearly felt the high quality of the tournament. All the opponents in our group were very strong, and it might have been our first time competing against teams of such caliber. It was truly a priceless experience,” Hoang Dinh Tung shared.

Regarding the opponents, the assistant coach of U16 PVF said he was especially impressed by U16 Barcelona’s style of play. Throughout the matches, the coaching staff and players learned a lot—from ball handling speed, opportunity utilization to finishing efficiency. These lessons will be important tools for U16 PVF to continue improving and developing in the future.