Vietnam U17 team arrives in Saudi Arabia: Beginning their campaign to qualify for the World Cup.
Coach Cristiano Roland and his team arrived in Jeddah two days early to acclimatize to the harsh conditions and prepare for their goal of reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Championship to qualify for the U17 World Cup.
On the morning of May 1st, the Vietnam U17 team officially arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after a nearly 12-hour flight. This is the most important step in the preparation for coach Cristiano Roland and his team in their effort to secure a historic ticket to the U17 World Cup through the 2026 AFC U17 Championship.
Thorough preparation in terms of logistics and physical condition.
Departing from Hanoi at 2 AM, the entire team made a connecting flight in Doha (Qatar) before landing in the host country at 10 AM (local time). The fact that the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) proactively sent the team two days earlier than the official AFC training camp schedule shows the great determination of Vietnamese youth football in this campaign.
According to coach Cristiano Roland, arriving early was crucial for his players to adjust their biological rhythms and adapt to the hot climate typical of the Middle East. Upon arriving in Jeddah, the team was warmly welcomed by the organizers and accommodated at the Mövenpick Jeddah Hotel – a modern facility that had previously served as a base for the Vietnamese national teams in previous tournaments.
Recovery and adaptation tactics
To relieve the fatigue after the long flight, Coach Roland instructed the players to spend the first afternoon completely resting. Later in the day, the entire team engaged in light exercises in the gym and relaxed in the swimming pool. This is a scientifically designed recovery process to ensure the players are in top physical condition before engaging in high-intensity tactical training sessions on the pitch.
The path to that historic ticket.
The 2026 AFC U17 Championship will bring together the 15 best teams in the continent, taking place from May 5th to 23rd. With a knockout format, the goal for the Vietnam U17 team is to advance from the group stage and win in the quarter-finals. According to the new regulations, simply finishing among the top 8 teams in Asia will officially secure Vietnam U17 a ticket to the U17 World Cup.
However, the challenge for Coach Roland and his team in Group C is considerable. The entire team will have to face strong opponents with diverse playing styles:
- 7/5:They will face Yemen U17 in their opening match.
- 10/5:Facing title contenders U17 South Korea.
- 14/5:A decisive match against UAE U17 in the final group stage game.
With professional preparation from an early stage, the Vietnam U17 team is showing great confidence and determination to replicate the feats achieved by their predecessors on the continental stage.