* Vietnam – Yemen: 12:00 AM Thursday, 7/5, Hanoi time.

U17 Vietnam's last victory at the U17 Asian Cup finals was in 2016, a 3-1 win against Kyrgyzstan in the group stage. That tournament also marked their most recent quarter-final appearance, where they lost 0-7 to Japan in the opening match but surprisingly defeated Australia 3-2. Historically, Vietnam has won only six of 31 matches in the tournament finals.

Since 2016, Vietnam has been eliminated in the group stage for three consecutive tournaments, recording five draws and four losses. In tonight's opening match against Yemen, Coach Cristiano Roland hopes the team can break this streak. He expects the players to understand the tactics implemented and execute them well on the field, mirroring previous performances. "I have absolute confidence in what the players will do to once again deliver a great performance," Roland stated. "I hope they give their best with confidence to secure a victory."

Coach Cristiano Roland (center) during U17 Vietnam's training session on 5/5 in Saudi Arabia. *Photo: Doan Huynh*

Under the Brazilian coach, two generations of U17 Vietnam teams are currently on a 16-match unbeaten run. Their morale is high after winning the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship in April.

The team traveled to Saudi Arabia on 1/5, two days ahead of schedule, to adapt to the playing conditions. The coaching staff wants the players to quickly "return to earth" and put past victories behind them, as reaching the U17 Asian Cup quarter-finals – which secures a spot at the World Cup – has been the primary objective since the team's formation.

According to Roland, everything is back on track with a focus built from preparation, training sessions, and recalling past experiences. He mentioned: "The players have gone through many highly competitive matches. This helps them enter the tournament with the best mindset. Currently, the players are in good form."

U17 Vietnam players engage in a game during their training session on 5/5 in Saudi Arabia. *Photo: Doan Huynh*

Like Vietnam, Yemen also had to participate in the qualifiers. However, they are better adapted to the playing conditions in West Asia. Coach Roland assesses Yemen as a strong, cohesive opponent with technically skilled individuals. "But through analysis, we know where we can attack and when we need to defend. That is a key point, but what matters is how the players execute it on the field," said the coach, born in 1976.

The U17 Asian Cup 2026 is taking place in Saudi Arabia from 5/5 to 22/5, featuring 15 teams after North Korea withdrew from Group D. The teams are divided into four groups, with four teams in each group, except for Group D which now has three. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals and earn a spot in the U17 World Cup 2026 in Qatar. If Qatar also reaches the quarter-finals, the best-performing third-placed team from the group stage will qualify for the U17 World Cup 2026.

Hieu Luong