U22 Vietnam sets clear goals at Panda Cup 2025
Coach Dinh Hong Vinh considers Panda Cup an important test: U22 Vietnam prioritizes training and adjusting tactics; 6 players have just returned to the team, aiming for SEA Games 33.
Ahead of the CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025, interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh affirmed that U22 Vietnam will prioritize training, accumulating experience and refining tactics rather than chasing the results of each match. This is considered a necessary test for the journey towards the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
Goals at CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025
Sharing at the press conference on November 11, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh emphasized that the Panda Cup is an opportunity for U22 Vietnam to test their strength against three strong opponents in the Asian region: U22 China, U22 Korea and U22 Uzbekistan. The team's main goal is to maintain a spirit of solidarity, initiative, test their abilities and train their mentality for official tournaments.
- Prioritize military training and accumulate international competition experience.
- Adjust and perfect tactics on the basis of existing human resources.
- Maintain a proactive and disciplined attitude in every match.
Launch pad from the series of draws at the beginning of the year
Recalling the international friendly tournament organized by CFA earlier this year, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said that U22 Vietnam had drawn 1-1 with U22 Korea, 0-0 with U22 Uzbekistan and 1-1 with U22 China. He considered it an important experience to help the players mature, contributing to the title of U23 Southeast Asia 2025 and the achievement of winning all matches in the qualifying round of U23 Asia 2026.
| Competitor | Score |
|---|---|
| U22 Korea | U22 Vietnam 1-1 U22 Korea |
| U22 Uzbekistan | U22 Vietnam 0-0 U22 Uzbekistan |
| China U22 | U22 Vietnam 1-1 U22 China |
According to coach Dinh Hong Vinh, that series of matches is the foundation for the team to continue developing, and is also a measure to compare the reunion at Panda Cup 2025.
Forces are busy because of the V.League 2025/26 schedule
Regarding the preparation process, U22 Vietnam is facing difficulties because many players are still busy playing for their clubs in V.League 2025/26. The team will only have enough players on the afternoon of November 11 when 6 players who have completed their duties at their clubs return to the team.
However, coach Dinh Hong Vinh affirmed that the plan has been maintained throughout from the end of 2024, ensuring that the personnel structure and training volume are not interrupted. The goal is to help players quickly integrate, stabilize their physical condition and rhythm before entering the test matches.
Long-term impact: towards SEA Games 33 and U23 Asia 2026
The coaching staff focuses on testing the competitive spirit through each match, instead of just aiming for the score. Panda Cup 2025 is an opportunity to evaluate the adaptability of the player groups, thereby perfecting the personnel plan for the big goals.
The message emphasized by coach Dinh Hong Vinh: the whole team will play with the highest determination, consider each match as a test of ability, train mentality and aim for peak performance when entering SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
Meaning to U22 Vietnam
- Quality opponents help test young players' progress.
- The pace of international competition aids the process of tactical refinement.
- Prepare mental and physical foundation for the next official tournaments.
With four traditional teams participating, CFA Team China – Panda Cup 2025 is considered an important test, suitable for the training goal of U22 Vietnam in the pivotal period before key tournaments.