According to the draw for the 2025 AFC U17 Championship, Vietnam U17 has been placed in a “death group” alongside Japan, Australia, and UAE. Despite the tough challenge, the opportunity to qualify for the 2025 U17 World Cup is within reach, providing significant motivation for the young Vietnamese team.
A Tough Group but Plenty of Opportunities
The 2025 AFC U17 Championship will be an opportunity for young teams to secure spots at the 2025 U17 World Cup. With FIFA increasing the number of participants to 48 teams, Asia will have 8 spots allocated. This means that 50% of the teams participating in the AFC U17 Championship will have the chance to compete in the World Cup. To achieve this goal, teams only need to finish in the top two of their group.
Group Draw for the 2025 AFC U17 Championship (Photo: AFC).
Analysis of Vietnam U17’s Rivals
In their group, Vietnam U17 will face three strong opponents:
- Japan U17: This team has superior strength, being the back-to-back defending champions of the AFC U17 Championship. Japan is consistently highly rated in youth competitions due to its well-established and professional training system.
- Australia U17: Although traditionally strong, Australia has not been very stable at the youth level. This could be a competitive match if Vietnam prepares well.
- UAE U17: The UAE is not a dominant force in youth football. Their last appearance in the AFC U17 Championship was in 2016, and they have participated only four times since 2002. This presents an opportunity for Vietnam U17 to earn points.
Vietnam U17 has a good chance to qualify for the World Cup (Photo: Minh Quan).
Challenges to Overcome
To capitalize on the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, Vietnam U17 must address current weaknesses. In the AFC U17 Championship qualifiers, the team showed lackluster play and poor endurance. Additionally, the absence of a head coach is a significant challenge. Head Coach Cristiano Roland has moved to manage Da Nang FC, and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is urgently seeking a replacement.
Many believe that VFF should consider inviting Coach Hoang Anh Tuan, who has extensive experience with Vietnamese youth teams. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan helped U20 Vietnam qualify for the 2017 U20 World Cup and has substantial experience in developing young talent.
Conclusion
The 2025 AFC U17 Championship is a great opportunity for Vietnam U17 to qualify for the World Cup. Despite the tough group, with careful preparation and determination, the young Vietnamese team can achieve remarkable results. The support of fans and the right choice of head coach will be crucial factors in helping Vietnam U17 succeed on the international stage.
