Six players were released before the team’s departure, including goalkeeper Vu Duy Anh; defenders Le Nguyen Khanh and Nguyen Bao Nam; and midfielders Tran Ngoc Son, Bui Gia Huan, and Phan Anh Luc.

The team will have two days of training to adapt to local conditions before their opening match against Australia U16 on May 28. They will go on to face China U16 on May 30 and Saudi Arabia U16 on June 1.

According to coach Roland, this tournament serves as the first major test for the new generation of players. With three strong opponents, the U16 team will be pushed to their limits in both attitude and competitiveness. He noted that the matches would help the players gauge their current level compared to regional standards. The team aims to make the most of these games to gain experience ahead of the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Australia U16 have brought a highly rated squad, including three players returning from Europe. This is expected to pose considerable challenges, and provide valuable opportunities for Vietnam’s lineup of players born in 2009 and 2010.

Vietnam’s U16 squad eliminated from AFC Championship finals

VOV.VN -The Vietnam national under-16 football team were knocked out of the AFC Championship finals following defeat in their final group stage match against Australia.