Six players have been cut due to injuries, including goalkeeper Nguyen Duc Manh, defenders Nguyen Van Phuc and Ho Sy Minh, midfielders Tran Thanh Tu and Tran Hong Kien, and striker Hoang Trong Duy Khang.

Vietnam’s U16s will play their opening match against the hosts China on August 16, then taking on Uzbekistan and Japan on August 18 and August 20, respectively.

Earlier, in July the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced the appointment of Brazilian Cristiano Roland as the new head coach of the U16 men's national football team.

Cristiano Roland is a retired Brazilian footballer who previously played as a left-back. He is currently the head coach of Hanoi FC’s youth team and is also the assistant coach of Vietnam’s national U17 team.

The Brazilian coach will lead Vietnam’s U16s in the qualifiers for the 2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U17 Asian Cup which are due to take place in Malaysia from October 19 to October 27.

Vietnam have been placed in Group I and will play against Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, and Yemen on October 23, October 25, and October 27, respectively.

As many as 43 teams have been divided into 10 groups, with the best 10 teams and five second-placed teams going through to the final round which will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The top eight teams from the Asian tournament will also qualify for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar as the AFC representatives, alongside hosts Qatar.

VOV