Vietnam to play friendlies in China ahead of 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers
VOV.VN - The Vietnam U16 national team will take part in an U16 international football tournament to be held in Hohhot, China, from May 26 to June 1, to prepare for the coming AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The friendly tournament will feature four junior teams from China, Vietnam, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. The event aims to provide valuable match experience and international exposure for young players ahead of the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers, set to begin in November 2025.
The junior players are scheduled to gather for a two-week training camp in Hanoi this May, before departing for China. They will consist of players born in 2009 or later, including some who previously joined the U17 national team in preparation for the recent AFC U17 Asian Cup.
Among the notable names are Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc and Nguyen Van Duong, both of whom played at the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup, with Chu starting in all three matches.
At present, the official squad list and coaching staff for the tournament have not yet been announced.
After leading the Vietnam U17s at the AFC finals, head coach Cristiano Roland is currently in charge of U17 Hanoi FC.
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