Vietnam U17's top rival at the World Cup faces Italy in the Euro final

Belgium U17, which shares a group with Vietnam U17 at the World Cup, has now confirmed who they will face in the Euro championship match.

The U17 Euro 2026 is entering its final stretch with developments that have drawn special attention from Vietnamese fans. The reason is that Belgium U17, one of Vietnam U17's opponents in the group stage of the 2026 U17 World Cup, has just made history by qualifying for the final of the most prestigious youth tournament in Europe. In the semi-final, the young Belgian team impressively defeated France U17 with a score of 2-1 to reach the title decider for the first time.

Meanwhile, the other semi-final between Italy U17 and Spain U17 was extremely tense. The two sides created a balanced contest and could not be separated in regular time. In the penalty shootout, the young Italian players showed greater composure to secure victory, thus claiming the remaining ticket to the final. This result means the last match of U17 Euro 2026 will be a showdown between Belgium U17 and Italy U17.

Reaching the final marks a historic milestone for Belgian youth football. Before this tournament, Belgium U17 had never once made it to the final match of the U17 Euro. However, with a highly promising generation of players, the Western European representatives have consistently overcome tough challenges to write a memorable story. This achievement shows that the quality of youth training in Belgian football remains at an very high level.

For Vietnam U17, Belgium U17's success makes the group stage of the 2026 U17 World Cup appear even more challenging. According to the draw results, coach Cristiano Roland's team will face Mali U17, Belgium U17, and New Zealand U17 in the group stage. Among these, Belgium U17 is considered a top strong opponent due to their superior technical foundation, physique, and speed. Advancing to the European final is the clearest proof of this team's strength.

Not only do they possess quality individuals, but Belgium U17 also impresses with their modern playing style and very tight organizational structure. They play confidently against major opponents and always know how to seize opportunities at decisive moments. The victory over France U17 in the semi-final shows that this team's competitive spirit has been elevated to a new level, making them a strong contender for the U17 Euro 2026 title.

Although facing an opponent in peak form, Vietnam U17 still has reason to be hopeful, as the World Cup is still many months away. The opportunity to compete against a team that just reached the European final will be a valuable chance for young Vietnamese players to gain experience against world-class talents. At the same time, Belgium U17's journey at U17 Euro 2026 will provide important data for Vietnam U17's coaching staff to study and develop suitable tactics ahead of the highly anticipated World Cup clash.