Unpredictable when U.17 Vietnam is in the second place group
As scheduled, the 2025 AFC U-17 Championship qualifiers will feature 43 teams, divided into 10 groups (3 groups of 5 teams, 7 groups of 4 teams). Accordingly, the 10 teams that finish first in each group and the 5 best second-placed teams will join host Saudi Arabia in the 2025 AFC U-17 Championship finals in April 2025. The draw puts Vietnam U-17 in Group H, with Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan and Yemen.
The number of teams between the groups is not balanced, when there are groups of 5 teams and groups of 4 teams. Therefore, when considering the 5 second-placed teams qualifying for the final round, the achievements of the second-placed teams (groups of 5 teams) with the bottom team of that group will not be counted. However, this does not affect U.17 Vietnam, when the group of coach Cristiano Roland and his team only has 4 teams.
U.16 Vietnam (red shirt) won 3-0 against U.16 Uzbekistan in August 2024
However, the latest changes in the 2025 AFC U-17 qualifiers may affect Vietnam U-17. It is known that Lebanon U-17 withdrew from the tournament due to force majeure. Therefore, Group H has only 3 teams: Laos (host), Malaysia and UAE. On the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) homepage, Lebanon U-17 matches in Group H are no longer available.
The above developments have led to a major change in the way the second-placed teams are determined to qualify for the finals. For groups of five teams, the second-placed team's performance against the bottom two teams will not be counted. Meanwhile, for groups of four teams, the second-placed team's performance against the bottom team will not be counted.
Returning to Group I of the 2025 AFC U17 qualifiers, things will become much more unpredictable if U17 Vietnam only finishes in second place.
Not easy to win the top spot
The teams that finish first in the group stage will automatically qualify for the 2025 AFC U-17 Championship finals regardless of their performance. To secure a place in the next round, Vietnam U-17 needs to finish first in Group I.
Match schedule of U.17 Vietnam in the 2025 U.17 Asian qualifiers
Coach Cristiano Roland's team has a big advantage when playing at home in Viet Tri (Phu Tho) in the group stage. However, the U.17 Vietnam boys are expected to face many difficulties when facing U.17 Myanmar, U.17 Kyrgyzstan and U.17 Yemen. In theory, the goal of winning the top spot in the group is not too much for U.17 Vietnam. However, youth football is full of surprises. Myanmar is a familiar opponent in the region, but is considered very difficult. Meanwhile, the two opponents from Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan) and West Asia (Yemen) are considered "obstacles" that U.17 Vietnam will not easily overcome.
The journey is predicted to be difficult, but fans can put their faith in U.17 Vietnam. Positive signals came from the Peace Cup friendly tournament that took place not long ago, where U.16 Vietnam made a strong impression with victories over two of the continent's leading youth football teams (defeating U.16 Japan 1-0, defeating U.16 Uzbekistan 3-0). The U.16 Vietnam players mentioned above are the core of the U.17 Vietnam team that will compete in the upcoming 2025 U.17 Asian qualifiers.
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