Song Lam Nghe An contributes 3 players to the Vietnam U17 squad for the 2026 Asian Championship.

The Vietnam U17 team has officially finalized its 23-player roster for the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. Notably, three players from Song Lam Nghe An, namely Quan Thanh Cong, Nguyen Minh Thuy, and Tran Ngoc Son, remain on the final list, continuing their journey with the team in the continental tournament.

Earlier, on the afternoon of April 30th, coach Cristiano Roland and his team completed their final training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. This was also the time when the coaching staff reviewed the squad and made the final decision on the registration list, in accordance with the tournament regulations which only allow each team to have 23 players.

Compared to the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship, where teams were allowed to register 26 players, streamlining the squad requires the coaching staff to carefully consider and ensure a balance between the lines, as well as planning personnel options for each specific match.

Accordingly, four players were not included in the final list: Nguyen Chuong, Quang Khoi, Quang Danh, and Dinh Phong. Coach Cristiano Roland personally encouraged these players to continue training hard and maintain their form to be ready for future opportunities.

Conversely, the inclusion of striker Tran Manh Quan is noteworthy. The forward, a product of the Hanoi academy, was added to the squad after missing the previous U17 Southeast Asian Championship. With a record of 29 goals in 29 matches in 2025, including 5 goals in the 2026 U17 Asian Championship qualifiers, Manh Quan is expected to strengthen the Vietnamese U17 attack.

The inclusion of three Song Lam Nghe An players in the final squad demonstrates the coaching staff's recognition of their contributions over the past period. In previous tournaments, especially the 2026 U17 Asian Championship qualifiers, all three were given opportunities to play and left a significant mark.

Among them, midfielder Nguyen Minh Thuy stands out as a regular starter. His ability to control the tempo, distribute the ball, and support transitions makes him a crucial link in the playing style that coach Cristiano Roland has built.

Up front, Tran Ngoc Son is a fast and dynamic backup option who can create breakthroughs whenever he's brought on. Meanwhile, center-back Quan Thanh Cong adds depth to the defense, ready to replace players when needed.

In the early hours of May 1st, the Vietnam U17 team departed for Saudi Arabia, transiting through Doha before heading to Jeddah. The entire team is expected to arrive at the competition venue around 10:00 local time on the same day, officially beginning their final preparations before the tournament.

The 2026 AFC U17 Championship was scheduled to take place from May 5th to May 23rd, featuring 16 of the continent's top teams. However, due to the withdrawal of the North Korean U17 team, the tournament now has 15 teams, and there have been some adjustments to the schedule.

In the group stage, Vietnam U17 is in Group C along with strong opponents including South Korea U17, UAE U17, and Yemen U17. This is considered a challenging group, requiring coach Cristiano Roland's team to maintain focus and prepare thoroughly.

According to the schedule, the Vietnam U17 team will face Yemen U17 on May 7th, then South Korea U17 on May 10th, before concluding the group stage with a match against the UAE U17 on May 14th. Each match in the group stage is crucial not only for securing a place in the quarterfinals but also opens up the opportunity for Vietnam U17 to participate in the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026.

The inclusion of three Song Lam Nghe An players in the final squad further affirms the role of the Nghe An team as one of the leading youth training centers, making a significant contribution to Vietnamese football.