Vietnam U19 receives major mission at Southeast Asian tournament

The Vietnam U19 squad has recently received a crucial assignment from the VFF leaders ahead of their trip to Indonesia for the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship.

The Vietnam U19 team has just returned from a training camp in Japan that lasted from May 14 to May 24. During this time, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his players played four friendly matches against "tough opponents" including the U20 and U22 teams of Shizuoka Sangyo University, Tokai Gakuen University, and the B team of Shimizu S-Pulse club.

The friendly matches are considered to have significant professional value in the process of reviewing the squad, refining playing style, and enhancing adaptability to international competition intensity.

In addition, playing against physically strong, fast, and well-organized tactical teams helps the young players accumulate more experience while providing a basis for the coaching staff to evaluate and select the optimal lineup.

During a meeting on the morning of May 26, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, on behalf of the VFF leadership, met, encouraged, and assigned tasks to the Vietnam U19 team before their departure for the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship in Indonesia.

Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stated that the entire team has made serious preparations both professionally and mentally for the upcoming tournament. The Japanese coach also highly appreciated the support from the VFF, the National Teams Department, as well as the cooperation from clubs during the process of assembling the squad for the Vietnam U19 team.

However, the team's preparation process has faced numerous difficulties as many players with good professional quality have not yet been able to join the squad due to playing for their parent clubs in national professional leagues and the National Second Division.

Some players born in 2008 also have to balance their cultural studies and prepare for the high school graduation exam.

VFF leaders expect Vietnam U19 to continue the success of Vietnam's youth teams, from U17, U23 to the national team over the past two years, thereby further affirming the image and position of Vietnamese football in the regional and continental arenas.