Having won against Yemen in their opening match, the Vietnam U17 team is expected to cause an upset against South Korea U17.
Following their 1-0 victory against Yemen U17, coach Cristiano Roland's team holds a significant advantage and is receiving high expectations from fans ahead of their match against South Korea.
The Vietnam U17 team holds a huge psychological advantage at the 2026 AFC U17 Championship after a convincing opening match. With a perfect 3 points, the red-shirted team not only temporarily took the lead in Group C but also rekindled hopes of a positive result against their higher-ranked opponent, South Korea U17, in the next match.
The contrast in Table C
The current standings in the group are giving the young Vietnamese players certain psychological advantages. While coach Cristiano Roland's team enjoyed a complete victory after their 1-0 win against U17 Yemen, their opponent, U17 South Korea, had an unsatisfactory start, drawing with U17 UAE.
This contrast is not only evident in the rankings but also in the playing styles of the two teams. While the Vietnam U17 team demonstrated discipline, cohesion, and effectiveness in their attacking strategies, the South Korean representatives disappointed with a lack of creativity. Despite superior ball control in the draw against UAE, the South Korea U17 team revealed many fatal weaknesses in their defense, especially in their ability to withstand fast counter-attacks.
Pressure is mounting on the South Korean representatives.
The performance of the South Korean U17 team has opened up a great opportunity for the "Golden Star Warriors". Experts believe that forcing the East Asian representatives to push forward in search of victory in the second match will be a double-edged sword. This is the ideal context for coach Cristiano Roland to implement a high-pressing style of play and exploit the gaps behind the opponent's defense.
Furthermore, the pressure to win to keep their hopes of advancing alive could make the young South Korean players impatient. Conversely, the Vietnam U17 team is in a relaxed state of mind and highly confident after already securing three points. Maintaining maximum concentration and tactical discipline will be key for Vietnam to neutralize their opponent's strength.
Belief from fans across the continent
On regional football forums, fans from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are enthusiastically supporting Vietnam. One account from Thailand commented: "With their impressive pressing ability, Vietnam can absolutely win 2-1 against South Korea." Even Japanese football enthusiasts believe that the gap in skill levels at the youth level is narrowing, and a major upset by Vietnam is entirely possible.
This expectation is not unfounded but reflects the clear professional progress of Vietnamese youth football under coach Roland's leadership. If they continue to maintain the fighting spirit shown in the opening match, the Vietnam U17 team will not only move closer to securing a place in the quarterfinals but also harbor hopes of realizing their dream of participating in the FIFA U17 World Cup.
