Brazilian coach speaks frankly about the 30-player list for Vietnam's national team

Coach Cristiano Roland asserts that the current list of 30 players is not the definitive lineup for Vietnam U17.

On the afternoon of October 5th, the Vietnam U17 team held their first training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, officially beginning preparations for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Before the training session, head coach Cristiano Roland stated: “I am very proud to continue being trusted with leading the national U17 team and contributing to Vietnamese football. For this phase, the entire team will train for a month in Hanoi, including several friendly matches, before heading to Japan for training with about three scrimmages, then returning to participate in the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers.”

Regarding the current squad, Coach Cristiano Roland mentioned the inclusion of many new faces selected based on their outstanding performances at the recent National U17 Championship. The Brazilian coach also emphasized that this is not the final list; the coaching staff will continue to monitor and add players as needed.

On the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers, Coach Cristiano Roland highlighted the comprehensive preparation: “The draw placed Vietnam U17 in a group with opponents of varying quality. Some matches may seem easy but could still present challenges. Therefore, instead of assuming any game will be simple, we must focus on every situation and proactively implement our tactics to make the matches easier.”

According to the plan, Vietnam U17 will train in Japan starting November 5th and play three friendlies arranged by the Japan Football Association. On November 16th, Coach Cristiano Roland and his team will return home to begin final preparations.

In the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers, Vietnam U17 is placed in Group C alongside Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), and the Northern Mariana Islands. Matches will take place from November 22 to 30, 2025, at two venues: the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center and PVF Youth Football Training Center.

The Vietnam Football Federation’s hosting rights granted by the AFC not only give Vietnam U17 home advantage in their bid to qualify for the final tournament but also inspire the team to pursue their dream of competing in the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup.