Thai media: 'Vietnam is too formidable, deserving the title of Southeast Asia's number one'

The impressive victory of Vietnam U17 over Australia U17 in the semifinals of the 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship not only resonated across the region but also garnered significant attention from Thai media.

The website Krian Buriram published an article praising the performance of the red-shirted team, acknowledging the strength of Vietnam's youth football. Specifically, the site wrote: "Vietnam is too formidable! Deserving the title of Southeast Asia's number one. Vietnam demonstrated its class by defeating Australia 2-1 without much difficulty, thereby securing a spot in the final of the 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship. It must be acknowledged that the youth generations of Vietnamese football are truly high-quality, strong across all levels.."

These assessments reflect the high regard from Thai media, especially in the context where Vietnam U17 just staged an emotional comeback against reigning champion Australia.

In the semifinal match on the evening of April 22, Vietnam U17 started confidently but soon faced adversity. In the 10th minute, Luke Becvinovski opened the scoring for Australia U17 with a sharp cut-back shot. However, the students of coach Cristiano Roland did not falter, maintaining their game and seeking opportunities.

In the 38th minute, Sy Bach's breakthrough forced an opponent's defender to foul inside the penalty area, but after consulting VAR, the referee denied Vietnam U17 a penalty. Nevertheless, the drama escalated in the 45+5th minute of stoppage time when Dai Nhân earned a penalty. The initial shot was unsuccessful, but Manh Cuong promptly headed in the rebound to equalize 1-1.

Entering the second half, Vietnam U17 continued to show initiative. In the 60th minute, from a well-executed set-piece, Nguyen Luc finished accurately from close range, raising the score to 2-1. In the remaining minutes, Australia U17 pressed forward aggressively but encountered the disciplined defense of Vietnam U17.

Even in the 90+3rd minute, Australia suffered further loss when player Marcus was sent off after a dangerous foul on Nguyen Luc. Ultimately, Vietnam U17 secured a 2-1 victory, thereby earning a ticket to the final.

The opponent of Vietnam U17 will be Malaysia U17, which overcame Laos U17 3-0 in the other semifinal. Previously, in the group stage, Vietnam U17 had defeated Malaysia 4-0, adding confidence ahead of the rematch.

With impressive form and resilient fighting spirit, Vietnam U17 stands before a major opportunity to claim the championship title. Simultaneously, praises from regional media like Thailand further demonstrate the increasingly elevated status of Vietnam's youth football on the Southeast Asian map.