Vietnam U19 hurries preparations for opening match at Southeast Asian tournament

Vietnam's U19 side is rapidly acclimating to the climate and field conditions in Indonesia in preparation for their opening game of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship.

According to information from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), on the afternoon of May 29, the Vietnam U19 team held their first training session in Medan, Indonesia, continuing to finalize their last preparations before embarking on their journey at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship.

After settling into their accommodations and recovering from the journey from Vietnam to Indonesia, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi and his players quickly resumed high-intensity training sessions. This was also the team's first training session on Indonesian soil since arriving in Medan on the evening of May 28.

The training took place under quite harsh weather conditions, with temperatures around 32°C. However, this temperature was not much different from the days the team trained in Hanoi earlier, helping the players quickly adapt to the local climate and thus prepare optimally for the upcoming matches.

Besides maintaining ball feel, the coaching staff also focused on movement exercises at appropriate intensity to help the players shake off the inertia from the long flight and quickly regain match fitness.

According to observations from the coaching staff, the entire squad demonstrated a serious and focused training spirit, completing the prescribed workload well. The players maintained a stable physical foundation while showing enthusiasm and high determination in their preparation for the tournament.

The pitch conditions and training facilities in Medan were assessed as meeting professional requirements well, facilitating the team's preparation plans in the remaining days before the opening match.

At the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, Vietnam U19 is placed in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's side will face Timor Leste on June 1, Myanmar on June 4, and Indonesia on June 7, respectively.

The Vietnam U19 team had assembled at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center since April 28 to prepare for the tournament. The team also had a 10-day training camp in Japan, playing four friendly matches against older opponents to gain experience and refine their skills.

However, the preparation process for Vietnam U19 was not entirely smooth. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi could not field his strongest squad due to the impact of domestic league schedules, high school graduation exams, and injury cases.

In the tournament's history, Vietnam U19 has only won the title once, in 2007. This achievement is one championship short of two Group A rivals: Indonesia (the reigning champions) and Myanmar.