Vietnam's U19 team receives a morale boost ahead of the Southeast Asian tournament

The leaders of the Vietnam Football Federation motivated and tasked the U19 squad for the 2026 Southeast Asian Games

On the morning of May 26, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, on behalf of the federation's leadership, met, encouraged, and assigned tasks to the U19 Vietnam team ahead of their departure for the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship in Indonesia

Speaking at the meeting, Secretary General Nguyen Van Phu acknowledged the efforts of the coaching staff and players during their recent preparation, while emphasizing the important role of the U19 squad in Vietnam's youth football development strategy. He expressed confidence in the team's unity, determination, and thorough preparation, aiming for positive results at the regional tournament and towards the Asian U20 qualifiers.

VFF leaders also expect the U19 Vietnam team to continue the success of other Vietnamese youth teams, from U17 to U23 and the senior national team, over the past two years, further affirming the image and standing of Vietnamese football on the regional and continental stages.

The squad U19 Vietnam recently returned from a training camp in Japan which lasted from May 14 to May 24. During this period, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his players played four friendly matches against sparring partners including the U20 and U22 teams of Shizuoka Sangyo University, Tokai Gakuen University, and Shimizu S-Pulse's B team.

These friendly matches are considered to have important professional value in the process of reviewing the squad, refining the playing style, and enhancing the ability to adapt to international competition intensity. Additionally, competing against teams with strong physicality, speed, and good tactical organization helps the young players gain more experience, while providing a basis for the coaching staff to evaluate and select the optimal lineup.

Sharing at the meeting, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi said the entire team has prepared seriously both professionally and mentally for the upcoming tournament. The Japanese manager also highly appreciated the support from the VFF, the national teams department, as well as the cooperation from clubs during the process of gathering the squad for the U19 Vietnam team.