Japanese coach speaks out, Vietnam U19 sets goals for Southeast Asian tournament

Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stated that in all games of Vietnam U19 at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, even the final, the entire squad needs to concentrate fully to pursue optimal outcomes.

At the press conference before the first group stage match of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi expressed his delight that the young players have the opportunity to participate in a highly competitive regional tournament, thereby gaining more international experience for their future development.

"We are very happy that our young players get to compete in this tournament. Vietnam U19 will give their best and treat every match like a final," Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stressed.

In Group A, Vietnam U19 is placed alongside hosts Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. Among these, the clash between Vietnam U19 and Indonesia U19 is regarded by experts and fans as the most anticipated match of the group.

When asked about this view, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi said that Vietnam U19 does not focus on any single opponent but will approach the tournament with the highest spirit in all matches.

"As I shared, Vietnam U19 will fight with all their might in every match. The game against Indonesia is no different."

Indonesia U19 enters this year's tournament as defending champions after defeating Thailand 1-0 in the 2024 final. The host team is once again considered one of the top contenders for the title, thanks to a quality squad that includes six players currently training or playing abroad.

Meanwhile, Vietnam U19 enters the tournament without being able to field its optimal lineup due to difficulties in squad availability caused by domestic fixtures. Nevertheless, Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi remains confident in the current players and the team's fighting spirit.

Vietnam U19's first opponent in Group A is Timor-Leste. The match kicks off at 4:00 PM on June 1st.

While Vietnam U19 takes a cautious and match-by-match approach, defending champion Indonesia U19 is determined to add another trophy to its collection and aims for its third title in the history of the most prestigious youth tournament in Southeast Asia.

Previously, Indonesia claimed championships in 2013 and 2024. With two titles already, the archipelago nation has a chance to match the achievements of Malaysia and Myanmar, which also have two trophies each.

However, the journey to the crown will not be easy, as Indonesia must compete against strong opponents like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

In recent years, Indonesian youth football has shown remarkable progress. Besides the 2024 championship, Indonesia has frequently finished among the top three teams in the tournament, including in 2017, 2018, and 2019. This consistency is seen as a key foundation for Indonesia to set high goals for the 2026 edition.

Historically, Thailand and Australia remain the most successful teams in this competition, each with five titles.

However, Australia has not been a regular guest at the tournament in recent years, thereby creating greater opportunities for Southeast Asian teams to compete and assert their standing.

Indonesia also hopes to seize this opportunity to move closer to the record held by the most successful teams in the tournament's history.