Vietnam kicks off at the ASEAN U19 championship

Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his team begin their journey to conquer the ASEAN U19 championship with a match against Timor Leste today.

Vietnam's U19 national team is set to face Timor Leste at 4 PM on monday, 1/6, marking their opening fixture in the ASEAN U-19 Boys' Championship 2026.

The tournament, hosted in Medan and Deli Serdang, Indonesia, runs from 1/6 to 13/6. 11 participating teams are divided into three groups. The competition format involves a round-robin stage within each group, with the top team from each group and the best second-placed team advancing to the semifinals.

Group A features Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. Group B comprises Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Australia, Cambodia, and the Philippines make up Group C.

U19 Vietnam players train in Medan, Indonesia, preparing for their opening match at the ASEAN U19 Championship 2026. Photo: VFF

Coach Ikeuchi acknowledges the pressure on his U19 squad, despite Vietnam's recent success in Southeast Asian youth tournaments, including the U23 championship in 2025 under Kim Sang-sik and the U17 title in 2026 with coach Cristiano Roland. He urged his players to draw motivation from these past victories but also cautioned them against underestimating any opponent, especially ahead of their initial match against Timor Leste.

"Vietnam will try our best and play every match like a final", coach Ikeuchi emphasized. He views the tournament as a valuable opportunity for young players to gain experience. "Therefore, we will fight with all our might in every match, regardless of whether it's Timor Leste or Indonesia".

Indonesia stands as Vietnam's toughest rival, benefiting from home advantage and fielding their strongest squad to defend their title. In contrast, coach Ikeuchi's team is not at full strength. Key players like center-back Dinh Quang Kiet and forward Tran Gia Bao from HAGL are absent due to graduation exams or V-League commitments. Additionally, young forward Nguyen Le Phat is playing for Ninh Binh, and forward Pham Anh Khoi (of Belgian origin, Royal Antwerp) is sidelined with a torn ligament.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Ikeuchi expressed confidence in his current squad. "Although some players are absent due to objective reasons, we trust our current squad. The young players are capable of aiming for the highest position", he stated. "We have prepared thoroughly for this tournament, so no matter how difficult it gets, we will overcome it together. The team's spirit never gives up".

The ASEAN U19 Championship, first held in 2002, has seen Thailand and Australia emerge as the most successful nations, each securing 5 titles. Thailand's victories came in 2002, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2017, while Australia claimed the championship in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016, and 2019. Malaysia won in 2018 and 2022, and Indonesia in 2013 and 2024.

Vietnam has won the championship only once, in 2007. That year, the tournament was hosted at Thanh Long Stadium, TP HCM, featuring a talented generation of players including Nguyen Duc Nhan, Nguyen Trong Hoang, Hoang Danh Ngoc, Le Van Thang, Nguyen Hong Viet, Chu Ngoc Anh, and Nguyen Dinh Hiep.