The tournament features four youth teams: U16 Vietnam, U16 Australia, U16 Saudi Arabia, and host nation U16 China. Organized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the event is intended to provide young players with valuable match experience ahead of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, which begin in November.

This is not the first time Vietnam’s youth teams have competed in a friendly tournament in China. Most recently, U16 Vietnam, under the leadership of coach Cristiano Roland, defeated U16 Japan 1-0 at the 2024 U16 International Tournament.

To prepare for the upcoming competition, U16 Vietnam is expected to convene for training in mid-May in Hanoi. The team will have about two weeks to train before departing for China. The squad will consist of players born in 2009 or later.

Notably, many players in this age group have already had the opportunity to train and compete with the U17 Vietnam team in preparation for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025. Among the standouts are midfield duo Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc and Nguyen Van Duong, both of whom made the official roster for that tournament.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has yet to finalize the head coach for the upcoming event, though it is likely that Cristiano Roland - known for his success with Vietnam’s youth teams - will continue in the role.

Dai Nam