Vietnam’s U17 national team have been drawn into Group G alongside Mali, Belgium and New Zealand at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026.

The draw ceremony took place at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on the evening of May 21.

A total of 48 teams qualified for the tournament and were divided into 12 groups of four.

Host nation Qatar were automatically placed in Group A and seeded in Pot 1 alongside the world’s top-ranked youth teams.

Vietnam, seeded in Pot 4, now face a difficult but potentially balanced group as coach Cristiano Roland’s side prepare for the country’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Vietnam are also the only Southeast Asian representatives at the tournament.

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Elsewhere among Asian teams, South Korea were drawn into Group B with Ecuador, New Caledonia and one yet-to-be-determined African team.

Japan landed in Group L alongside Colombia, Honduras and Serbia.

China were drawn into Group H with Spain, Morocco and Fiji, while hosts Qatar will face Egypt, Panama and Greece in Group A.

So far, 46 of the 48 participating teams have secured qualification for the finals.

The remaining two places will be decided after African qualifying play-off matches scheduled for May 23.

The FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 will take place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13.

Matches will be held at the Aspire Zone sports complex in Doha.

Vietnam preparing for historic World Cup debut

Vietnam secured qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup after finishing top of Group C at the AFC U17 Championship 2026.

The achievement marks the first time in history that a Vietnamese football team has qualified for the world finals at U17 level.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation, the draw presents a highly competitive challenge with opponents from Africa, Europe and Oceania - regions known for physical strength, tactical discipline and international experience.

“Participating in the FIFA U17 World Cup is already a historic and proud milestone for Vietnamese football,” said VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu. “More importantly, this is a valuable opportunity for our young players to continue developing, gain experience and prove themselves on the world’s biggest stage for U17 football.”

Tran Anh Tu emphasized that the tournament would not only benefit the current generation of players but also inspire future Vietnamese youth teams to pursue qualification for global competitions.

He added that the VFF considers preparations for the tournament especially important.

Based on the federation’s technical plan, Vietnam’s U17 squad will receive optimal conditions for overseas training camps, international friendlies and physical preparation ahead of the tournament.

“The VFF believes Vietnam U17, with the best possible preparation, will present a positive image of Vietnamese youth football at the U17 World Cup,” he said.

At the FIFA U17 World Cup, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 seedings

Pot 1: Qatar, Brazil, France, Mali, Argentina, Italy, Japan, Spain, United States, Mexico, Senegal, South Korea

Pot 2: Morocco, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Croatia, Ecuador, Belgium, Ireland, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, Australia, Saudi Arabia

Pot 3: New Zealand, Costa Rica, Tajikistan, Panama, New Caledonia, Honduras, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Fiji, Cameroon, Denmark, Montenegro

Pot 4: Serbia, Romania, Greece, Uruguay, Tanzania, Algeria, Vietnam, China, Jamaica, Cuba and two African teams yet to qualify

Dai Nam