On the morning of May 28, Vietnam U19 departed for Indonesia for the tournament, which runs from June 1 to June 14. The competition plays an important role in the team’s preparations for the qualifiers of the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup.

Before departure, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi narrowed the squad down to 25 players. According to the plan, the coaching staff will continue evaluating the team before finalizing the official 23-man roster one day before the opening match.

Coach Ikeuchi said the preparation process had not been easy due to scheduling conflicts involving domestic competitions and the national high school graduation exams affecting players born in 2008.

He described it as unfortunate that the team could not field its strongest possible squad for the tournament, particularly with the absence of players such as Le Phat and Gia Bao.

However, the Japanese coach remains confident and emphasized the determination of the entire squad ahead of the upcoming challenge.

“The coaching staff and I have prepared very carefully for the ASEAN tournament with a spirit of determination and never giving up. No matter how difficult things become, Vietnam U19 will overcome them together,” Ikeuchi said.

At the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, Vietnam are placed in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Myanmar and Timor Leste.

According to the fixture schedule, coach Ikeuchi’s side will face Timor Leste on June 1, Myanmar on June 4 and Indonesia on June 7.

Vietnam U19 face nearly full day of travel

Under the itinerary, Vietnam U19 departed from Ho Chi Minh City at 9:50 a.m. on a flight to Jakarta, arriving at 1:00 p.m. local time.

The team then continued with a domestic connection from Jakarta to Medan, the tournament host city, departing at 4:35 p.m. and arriving around 7:00 p.m.

The total travel time stretches across nearly an entire day, including transit and waiting times between flights, posing a significant physical challenge for the young players.

Dai Nam