Student playground, talent emerges

Launch of international student award

Journalist Hai Thanh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the tournament, said that the number of participating teams has gradually increased over the past 3 seasons, demonstrating the strong development of the school football movement. Notably, in the 3rd season, there were 14 teams participating for the first time. This number shows that the goals of the Organizing Committee have gradually become a reality, accordingly, TNSV has increasingly spread strongly, becoming an event that students nationwide look forward to at the end of the year. “Not only is Thanh Nien Newspaper a media agency that operates according to its mission and objectives, it also regularly organizes events to serve the community. In addition to being an effective bridge for readers to open their arms to the disadvantaged, Thanh Nien Newspaper always cares about the spiritual life of young people through programs that inspire beautiful living, as well as enhance physical development through sports competitions. We realize that this is our social responsibility, our long-term goal, and through that, affirms the role and function of a newspaper under the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union,” said journalist Hai Thanh.

Sân chơi sinh viên, tài năng xuất hiện- Ảnh 1. — Representatives of *Thanh Nien* Newspaper and VFF signed a professional cooperation agreement for the 2025 international TNSV football tournament - THACO Cup

Journalist Hai Thanh also said that right after the end of the TNSV THACO Cup 2025, with the professional support of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the main sponsorship from THACO Group, Thanh Nien Newspaper will organize the first international TNSV tournament, with the participation of Southeast Asian football teams. We will welcome student players from countries in the region to Ho Chi Minh City to compete with 2 Vietnamese representatives. "We hope that this international event will be a driving force for Vietnamese student football teams to compete with greater determination in the 3rd season, in the spirit of strictly following the tournament's regulations and continuing to promote the style of "Playing well, winning well, cheering well", journalist Hai Thanh shared.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phu, General Secretary of VFF, Co-Chairman of the tournament's Organizing Committee, affirmed: "We are very happy that in 2025, the TNSV THACO Cup 2025 will attract 67 teams to compete, including 66 teams competing in the qualifying round, an increase of 3 teams compared to the 2024 season. In this season, some new adjustments in the tournament's regulations promise to bring fans exciting, attractive competitions imbued with the spirit of students from all regions across the country. VFF believes that these tournaments will be a good opportunity to strongly develop the student sports movement in general, and student football in particular. From the student playground, great football talents will appear."

Sân chơi sinh viên, tài năng xuất hiện- Ảnh 2. — Representatives of *Thanh Nien* Newspaper and THACO Group signed the launching of the 2025 international TNSV football tournament - THACO Cup

Sân chơi sinh viên, tài năng xuất hiện- Ảnh 3. — Draw lots for group E in Ho Chi Minh City area

HEAT FROM SOUTH TO NORTH

One of the hot spots in the qualifying round is the northern region, gathering many ambitious names such as runner-up for two consecutive seasons, Thuy Loi University, Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports, National Economics University and the unknown from the new recruit Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Coach Vu Van Trung (Thuy Loi University) shared: “The competition in the groups this year is very fierce, not only in the north but also in other regions. The success in the first two seasons created great media value, the schools have professional investment interest so the competition is very fierce. Hanoi is the traditional cradle of student football, so the race for 2 places is always a hot spot. I think the standards and criteria for the draw are reasonable, creating quite fair competition. We will make efforts and try to stand side by side with the tournament organizers to maintain the purity and objectivity, which is a symbol of the enthusiasm and passion of Vietnamese students”.

As usual, Ton Duc Thang University's football field will be hot from the opening day, 28 teams will compete fiercely for more than 2 weeks to select the 4 best names to participate in the final round. This will be a "martial arts convention" gathering many names with a long tradition and strength such as Nong Lam University, Van Lang University, University of Technology - Ho Chi Minh City National University, University of Technical Education, Van Hien University... Besides, many new names are also cherishing to establish a new order with drastic investments, all for the dream of participating in the final round, to be one of the 12 best representatives of student football in the country. A typical example is the People's Police University, which promises to be a dark horse with a long-term investment strategy (currently building an 11-player field on campus), led by former player, goalkeeper coach of the Vietnam national team Nguyen The Anh.

Sân chơi sinh viên, tài năng xuất hiện- Ảnh 4.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Mot, Senior Director in charge of culture and communication, THACO Group, said that after 2 successful seasons, THACO realized that if it only stopped at domestic tournaments, it would not be enough in the context of a flat world - globalization - digital technology, which makes people very distant from each other. “Football can also bring people closer together, harmonize in a flat world, so we propose to organize an international student football tournament, first of all in the region. We signed a 5-year partnership, continuing to accompany the tournament to develop the tournament, so that the tournament operates long-term, has a reputation in the world, in many other countries, and expands the international tournament in the future. That is the wish of our sponsor and we believe that VFF and Thanh Nien Newspaper will also support this idea”, Mr. Nguyen Mot expressed.

Attending the announcement ceremony and drawing lots for the qualifying round of the THACO Cup 2025 were distinguished guests: Ms. Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Training, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Standing Member of the Asian Football Confederation, President of VFF; Mr. Nguyen Van Phu, General Secretary of VFF; Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, Deputy Chief of Office of the Central Youth Union; Mr. Nguyen Mot, Senior Director in charge of culture and communication, THACO Group, and representatives of sponsoring units; representatives of universities, colleges, academies and press units...