Vietnam U17 finalizes squad, departs for training in Japan.
After six friendly matches against diverse opponents, coach Cristiano Roland is pleased with the spirit and adaptability of the Vietnam U17 team; the team will travel to Japan on November 5th to play three matches.
The Vietnam U17 team will depart for Japan on the evening of November 5th to play three friendly matches arranged by the Japan Football Association, before returning on November 16th to finalize preparations for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will take place from November 22nd to 30th, 2025 in Hanoi and Hung Yen. After six test matches domestically, coach Cristiano Roland affirmed that the team has a solid core and the players have quickly adapted to the playing style.
Training plan for Japan ahead of the 2026 U17 Asian Qualifiers.
According to the plan, the Vietnam U17 team will travel to Japan on the evening of November 5th. During the training camp, the team will play three friendly matches against suitable opponents arranged by the Japan Football Association. On November 16th, the team will return to Vietnam to begin the final preparation phase, aiming for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Championship Qualifiers, to be held from November 22nd to 30th, 2025 in Hanoi and Hung Yen.
A month of assembly: spirit and adaptation
Speaking before the training session on November 4th, coach Cristiano Roland expressed his satisfaction with the attitude and adaptation speed of his players after nearly a month of training: “What pleases me most over the past month is that the players have always felt comfortable wearing the national team jersey. Some have been called up before, while many are being called up for the first time. Nevertheless, they all show a desire to prove themselves, get used to the team environment, and adapt well to the playing style that the coaching staff has developed. They are showing confidence and understanding their roles in each situation. This is the foundation for the team to be in its strongest form when entering the 2026 U17 Asian Qualifiers.”
Six friendly matches and how to increase the difficulty.
Regarding the recent series of six friendly matches, Coach Roland stated that the team had been tested at various levels to gain experience and improve adaptability: “We planned meticulously, arranging for the players to compete against opponents of different ages and skill levels – from the U18, U19, and U21 teams domestically to opponents of the same age group, the U17 Cambodian team. With each match, the players showed clear progress and achieved the goals set by the coaching staff. The three upcoming friendly matches during the training camp in Japan will also be very important, helping the whole team to prepare as best as possible for the U17 Asian qualifiers.”
Competition for positions and team lineups.
Regarding personnel, the Vietnam U17 team has established a core squad but still maintains internal competition: “Actually, we have already formed the core squad from the first training camp, and added some outstanding new faces from the national U17 championship. My view is that all players must always be in a state of readiness. The upcoming training camp in Japan will be an opportunity to refine and further strengthen the strongest possible squad.”
Respect all opponents, give 100% effort.
Assessing the qualifying group, coach Cristiano Roland emphasized a pragmatic approach and focus on internal strengths: “We have thoroughly studied our opponents. Every match is important and presents its own challenges. For me, the most important thing is that the players fight with 100% spirit and ability. When we do that, we will make the game easier with our own capabilities.”
Training pace: Relaxing after the U17 Cambodia match.
On the afternoon of November 4th, at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, the Vietnam U17 team held a relaxing training session. Having just played a friendly match against Cambodia U17 on the evening of November 3rd, the coaching staff prioritized exercises to relax muscles, regenerate energy, and balance training load after a period of continuous physical and technical training.
Key timelines
- 3/11: Training match against Cambodia U17.
- 4/11: A light training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center.
- November 5th: Depart for Japan for training.
- During the training period: 3 friendly matches against suitable opponents arranged by the Japan Football Association.
- November 16th: Return to Vietnam to finalize preparations.
- November 22-30, 2025: 2026 AFC U17 Asian Championship Qualifiers in Hanoi and Hung Yen.
From the rhythm of assembly – increasing difficulty – internal competition to respect for all opponents, the preparation programming of the Vietnam U17 team shows a systematic approach. The three test matches in Japan are expected to be the final test before Coach Cristiano Roland's team enters the tournament in top form.
