Vietnam U17 arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 5am local time (8am Vietnam time) on November 6 after a long journey from Hanoi, beginning the final phase of their preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026.

The coaching staff and 25 players quickly settled into their accommodation and held their first training session later that afternoon.

The team's training ground meets the required standards and is approximately 20 minutes by bus from their hotel, providing favorable conditions for Roland and his coaching staff to implement their training program.

Dubai's hot and sunny weather, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 36 degrees Celsius, is another important factor in the team's preparations.

Training in these conditions will help the players gradually adapt to the climate they are likely to encounter in Qatar, where the World Cup will take place.

Cristiano Roland fine-tunes tactics and final squad

Before departing for the UAE, Brazilian head coach Cristiano Roland reduced his squad from 28 to 25 players.

He will make four further cuts before confirming the final 21-player squad for the tournament.

Assessing the team's progress, Roland said the players had met the coaching staff's expectations after seven weeks of preparation and had developed a good understanding of the team's playing philosophy.

He expressed confidence that the squad would continue improving during the UAE training camp and reach peak physical condition before their opening World Cup match.

With Vietnam U17 likely to face opponents possessing greater physical advantages, Roland has emphasized the importance of maximizing his players' speed, agility and technical ability.

The team is working on a fast, intelligent playing style, with particular attention to quick passing, decisive decision-making and effective movement.

Players are also being instructed to maintain positional discipline and control space when out of possession.

Roland believes these qualities will be crucial if Vietnam are to compete effectively against stronger opponents and create surprises at the tournament.

Vietnam U17 target knockout stage in Qatar

Vietnam U17 will maintain their training schedule at 4pm local time from November 6 to 8, focusing on tactical adjustments, physical conditioning and match readiness.

On November 9, the team will play a friendly against Fiji U17 at 6pm local time.

The match will provide Roland with an opportunity to assess his players' form, test tactical combinations and make final decisions on the World Cup squad.

Following the friendly, Vietnam U17 will travel from Dubai to Doha on November 10 to complete their preparations for the tournament.

Vietnam have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Mali.

They will open their campaign against Belgium on November 20, face New Zealand on November 23 and conclude the group stage against Mali on November 26.

The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

Despite the challenging opposition, Roland and his players are determined to progress beyond the group stage and make an impact on the international stage.

With a carefully planned training program, a final warm-up match and time to adapt to regional conditions, Vietnam U17 hope to enter the World Cup in their best possible shape.

Dai Nam