Vietnam U19 head coach calls up 29 players for AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026 qualification preparation

On September 17, 2026, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) officially announced a squad of 29 players called up to the national U19 team for the preparation phase ahead of the AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026 qualification. This marks the first gathering in a three-stage preparation sequence aimed at securing qualification for the AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026 final tournament. According to VFF, the first training camp will run from September 20 at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center (VYF) in Hanoi. Following the domestic preparation phase, the team will relocate to a West Asian country for the second training camp, targeting climate and time-zone adaptation ahead of the qualification tournament scheduled for November 2026. A notable feature of this call-up is the addition of 7 new faces compared to the squad that competed in the AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026 final tournament last March. Among the 7 newcomers, there are 2 goalkeepers from Hanoi and PVF, 3 defenders from PVF, Cong An Ha Noi and The Cong-Viettel, and 2 midfielders from PVF and SHB Da Nang. Significantly, no forwards appear in the 7 new additions — a signal suggesting the coaching staff assessed the attacking department as already adequately covered, while defensive depth and goalkeeping positions required reinforcement. The PVF (Promotion Fund for Vietnamese Football Talent) academy continues to assert its position as Vietnam's premier youth talent pipeline, with 3 of the 7 new call-ups originating from PVF. Traditional clubs such as Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong-Viettel and SHB Da Nang also contributed promising young talents to this gathering. The 29-player squad includes the core group that established their positions during the AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026, featuring standout players such as midfielder Nguyen Van Toan, defender Tran Dinh Trong, forward Nguyen Cong Phuong and other U19 internationals with prior competitive experience. Retaining the attacking core indicates the coaching staff's strategy to preserve the attacking identity built during the previous tournament, rather than undergoing a squad rebuild. The head coach assigned by VFF to lead this young generation emphasized that he has worked long enough to understand the players' abilities and build trust within the dressing room. The decision to continue trusting existing personnel further reinforces organizational stability ahead of qualification. With 29 players called up for a competitive tournament, the squad size aligns with an evaluation-and-attrition camp objective. The list will be trimmed to 23 players before the qualification matches begin. Competition pressure at the bottom of the roster is expected to create motivation but also carries morale risks within the squad environment. Beyond positive signals regarding personnel stability, Vietnam's U19 team faces several challenges during the preparation phase. The lack of high-competitive friendly matches stands out as a key weakness. Additionally, the November qualification schedule forces the team to balance training with domestic league commitments, particularly the national first division where many young players are currently competing. From a tactical standpoint, since this is a preparation-and-training phase with no official matches yet, assessing tactical system completion remains impossible. However, the squad rotating around players who have trained together since the AFC U19 Asian Cup 2026 suggests this is a consolidation phase rather than a new installation phase. The 2026 season also marked a significant turning point in Vietnam's youth football development, as several V-League clubs began investing more seriously in academies and youth teams. The performance of the 2026 U19 generation is expected to pave the way for subsequent player cohorts while establishing a foundation for future youth World Cup aspirations.