Vietnam U17 women's team faces Thailand: Breaking the historical jinx to keep their World Cup dream alive.
The opening match of Group A at the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship in Suzhou on the afternoon of May 1st is a pivotal challenge for coach Okiyama Masahiko's team in their race to qualify for the tournament in Morocco.
At 2:30 PM on May 1st, the Vietnam U17 women's team will officially begin their journey at the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship with their opening match against Thailand U17 women's team. This is not only a regional derby but also a crucial match to determine the Vietnamese girls' ability to advance further in the continental tournament, where a ticket to the U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco awaits the best representatives.
The gateway to the World Cup and the challenge of Group A.
This year's tournament features 12 teams, divided into 3 groups. The format allows the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, to advance to the quarterfinals. If they reach the semi-finals, the Vietnam U17 women's team will officially become one of the four Asian representatives to participate in the U17 Women's World Cup finals.
Placed in Group A alongside host nation China, Thailand, and Myanmar, the goal for coach Okiyama Masahiko's team is clearly defined: to compete for second place. With the Chinese U17 women's team, enjoying home advantage and possessing superior skill, predicted to take the top spot, the direct confrontation with Thailand becomes the most crucial factor in Vietnam's chances of advancing.
Pressure from the past and weather barriers
The history of their encounters is a significant psychological burden for the young Vietnamese players. In the last five official matches, successive generations of the Vietnamese U17 women's team have never once won against their neighboring rivals. Thailand's past dominance makes them our most formidable opponent at the youth football level.
Besides professional skills, the external conditions in Suzhou also presented a major challenge. The players had to quickly adapt to temperatures dropping to as low as 11 degrees Celsius. This is an extreme temperature compared to normal training conditions in Vietnam, requiring thorough preparation in terms of physical fitness and endurance from the entire team.
Thorough preparation for a breakthrough goal.
To realize the dream of participating in the continental World Cup for the second time, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has implemented a systematic investment plan for this promising generation of players. Coach Masahiko's current squad has undergone several long-term training camps, most notably a high-quality training camp in Japan.
Recent international friendly matches have significantly helped young players improve their tactical thinking, ball-handling skills, and especially their competitive spirit. Under the guidance of the Japanese strategist, the Vietnam U17 women's team is showing progress in team structure and the ability to transition between phases of play.
Objectively speaking, a draw in their opening match against Thailand would be a reasonable scenario, helping the Vietnam U17 women's team maintain their chances and build momentum for the following matches. However, with a burning desire to break the historical jinx, fans can certainly expect a more explosive performance from the Golden Star Warriors.
