U17 Vietnam first training session in Ehime, waiting to compete with U18 Imabari
Vietnam U17 had their first training session in Ehime in favorable weather, prioritizing recovery and tactics; 8/11 against Imabari U18, aiming for the 2026 Asian U17 Qualifiers.
Immediately after settling down in Ehime province (Japan), coach Cristiano Roland and his team completed the first training session of their more than one-week training trip, with the goal of getting familiar with the competition conditions and reviewing tactics before the opening friendly match against U18 Imabari on November 8.
Early Pace: Recovery, Adaptation and Fitness Base
The weather conditions in Ehime are cool, with light sunshine and moderate humidity, helping the players adapt easily and maintain stable physical condition. The coaching staff designed a moderate workload, prioritizing recovery after long travel, while helping the whole team adjust to the new time zone.
In addition, coach Cristiano Roland spends time on tactical reinforcement exercises to ensure the rhythm of the game when entering the friendly series. This approach creates a balanced physical and tactical foundation, reducing muscle load but still maintaining ball feel and connection in the squad.
First Test: U18 Imabari, the right measure
According to the plan, on November 8, U17 Vietnam will meet U18 Imabari FC - the youth team of Imabari Club competing in J.League 2. This is considered a suitable test for the warm-up stage, helping the team gradually perfect the squad and playing style, thereby assessing the level of adaptation after the first sessions in Japan.
Practice match schedule in Japan
| Day | Competitor | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 08/11 | U18 Imabari | Imabari Club Youth Team (J.League 2) |
| 11/11 | Matsuyama University | International friendlies |
| 13/11 | U18 Ehime | International friendlies |
Target: 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers
The trip to Japan is expected to help U17 Vietnam accumulate competition experience and high-intensity habits in the continent's leading youth training environment. This is a preparation step towards the 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers, scheduled to take place from November 22 to 30, 2025 in Hanoi and Hung Yen.
Consecutive encounters with carefully selected “blue troops” allow the coaching staff to observe the ability to organize play, tactical adaptation and the quality of coordination between lines when changing opponents, thereby fine-tuning personnel for the decisive stage.
Key timeline of the training
- Training start in Ehime: afternoon of November 7 (local time)
- Friendly matches: November 8 (U18 Imabari), November 11 (Matsuyama University), November 13 (U18 Ehime)
- End of training, return home: November 15
Professional highlights after the first session
- Moderate volume: prioritizes physical recovery and reduces the risk of injury after long travel.
- Quickly adapt to weather and time zones, maintain stable biological rhythms for friendly matches.
- Strengthening tactics: clarifying roles and operating principles to quickly catch up with the competition phase.
With a renewed physical foundation and a tactical framework reiterated on the first day, U17 Vietnam entered the friendly match series in Japan with a clear direction: testing the pace of play, cohesion and the ability to transform tactical ideas before the 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers.
