The 2026 Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament kicks off

The event is held to celebrate the anniversary of the Vietnam Students’ Traditional Day (January 9), the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26), and Vietnam Sports Day (March 27).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper and Head of the Organizing Committee, stated that what began as an idea has now become an eagerly awaited annual event for students and football fans nationwide. The tournament’s deepest value is not only to spread the love of football but also to help build a generation of young people who excel intellectually, are physically outstanding, rich in cultural identity, and capable of competing with global powers across five continents.

The competition attracted 60 teams from universities, colleges, and academies across the country. The host team for the finals, Nha Trang University, was granted direct entry to the final round, while the remaining 59 teams will compete in qualifiers across four regions, vying for 11 slots in the finals scheduled to take place in Khanh Hoa in early March 2026.

According to the Organizing Committee, the qualifiers are divided into four zones. Specifically, Group A - Northern region includes 12 teams playing at Thuy Loi University Stadium (Hanoi); Group B - Central Coastal region has 4 teams competing at Military Zone 5 Stadium (Da Nang); Group C - Ho Chi Minh City region features the largest number with 35 teams playing at Ton Duc Thang University Stadium and Tao Dan Park; Group D - Southwestern region consists of 8 teams playing at Dong Thap University Stadium.

The Ho Chi Minh City regional qualifiers run from January 9 to 27, with 35 teams divided into 9 groups (4 teams per group, except group K with 3 teams) playing a single round-robin format. The 9 group winners, the 2 best runners-up, and the runner-up from Group D (Southwest region) will compete in playoffs for 6 spots in the finals. The Organizing Committee requires referees and officials to be impartial and precise, and teams to strictly follow the tournament regulations, ensuring honest competition and fair play spirit.

Immediately following the opening ceremony was the match between the host Ton Duc Thang University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking. With home advantage and a stronger squad, Ton Duc Thang University took an aggressive approach, applying pressure from the early minutes. Unexpectedly, at the 13th minute, Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking was awarded a penalty, but player Nguyen Dang Khoa missed the chance as his shot went over the crossbar.

After this, the visiting team faced continuous pressure from the host’s relentless attacks. Player Hoang Sy Oai shone with a hat-trick at the 22nd, 32nd, and 48th minutes, giving Ton Duc Thang University a significant lead early on. In the remaining minutes, the home team scored three more goals at the 53rd, 57th, and 74th minutes, concluding the match with a dominant 6-0 win over Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking.

Earlier, in the opening match, Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology secured a 2-0 victory against Vietnam Aviation Academy.

This year’s tournament maintains the same valuable prizes as previous seasons. Accordingly, the champion will receive a cup, gold medals, and a cash prize of 300 million VND; the runner-up will get silver medals and 150 million VND; two third-place teams will receive bronze medals and 70 million VND each; and the team awarded for fair play will receive 40 million VND.