U22 Vietnam attends Panda Cup 2025, prepares for SEA Games 33

On the morning of November 10, U22 Vietnam left for China to participate in the CFA Team China - Panda Cup 2025 international football tournament taking place in Chengdu (Sichuan province) from November 12 to 18. The tournament has four teams: U22 Vietnam, U22 Uzbekistan, U22 Korea and U22 China, considered a quality playground to review the force before the 2026 AFC U23 Finals and a warm-up step for the goal of SEA Games 33. The opening match of U22 Vietnam is against host U22 China at 2:30 p.m. (Vietnam time) on November 12.

Short schedule, early test

The team had only one training session on the afternoon of November 11 before taking the field. In the context of tight time, the goal was clearly defined: to demonstrate a positive competitive spirit, optimize professional efficiency in each match and accumulate international experience as a foundation for the 33rd SEA Games.

Due to the V.League 2025/26 schedule, the squad will gather in three groups traveling from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Tinh. The grouping helps ensure the rhythm of the matches for the players who are busy at the club level but also poses a challenge in terms of tactical connection in a very short time before the opening match.

Training and organization

According to the assignment of the Vietnam Football Federation, Vice President Tran Anh Tu takes on the role of Head of the Delegation. Assistant Dinh Hong Vinh continues to hold the position of Acting Head Coach during the period when Coach Kim Sang Sik leads the National Team to prepare for the match against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Such a personnel structure helps U22 Vietnam maintain continuous training work, while ensuring consistency in observing and evaluating players in the national team system.

Core personnel and highlights

The U22 Vietnam roster includes many players who have made an impression at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and contributed to the ticket to the 2026 Asian U23 Championship: Nguyen Phi Hoang, Nguyen Xuan Bac, Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ly Duc. In addition, there are experienced national players such as Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Tran Trung Kien.

Notably, Bui Vi Hao returned after a long-term injury. His return promises to increase options for the attack and open up more deployment options for the coaching staff in both attacking and transition scenarios.

Tactical perspective: review people, test plans

Panda Cup 2025 is considered the place for U22 Vietnam to test their squad and tactics. In the context of opponents who are all strong in Asia, each 90 minutes is a test of adaptability, game organization and match tempo management. Facing the home team in the first match creates pressure but is also an opportunity to evaluate their competitive spirit.

With a short time frame, the focus is likely to be on assembling the positional groups that have been matched from previous tournaments, checking fitness and ball feel, and recording the effectiveness of personnel rotations between games. Results are not the only goal; data gathered on individual performance and organizational structure will be the core value heading into the 33rd SEA Games.

Quick Statistics

• Tournament time: November 12–18 in Chengdu (Sichuan province).
• Participating teams: U22 Vietnam, U22 Uzbekistan, U22 Korea, U22 China.
• Opening match of U22 Vietnam: 2:30 p.m. (Vietnam time) on November 12 against U22 China.
• Number of training sessions before the competition: 1 session (afternoon of November 11).
• Travel organization: 3 groups from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Tinh.
• Board of Directors: Tran Anh Tu (Head of Delegation); Dinh Hong Vinh (Acting Head Coach).
• Notable faces: Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Phi Hoang, Nguyen Xuan Bac, Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ly Duc; Bui Vi Hao returns.

Expected impact

With the context of competing with three highly competitive opponents, Panda Cup 2025 is a useful rehearsal for U22 Vietnam to perfect their personnel and fine-tune their operations before entering key goals such as SEA Games 33 and U23 Asia 2026. The minutes of competition in Chengdu are expected to bring valuable experience, clarify the order of position priorities and help shape the team's skeleton for the upcoming journey.