Draw for the schedule of the 2026 National U17 Championship Finals

The 2026 National U17 Championship final round has finished its group draw, setting the stage for thrilling contests between the top 12 sides.

Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially completed the draw and schedule for the finals of the 2026 National U17 Championship – Red Dragon Cup. The tournament gathers the country's top 12 teams, promising exciting competition in Pleiku and Ham Rong Sports Center (Gia Lai) from July 16 to 29, while continuing to serve as a crucial platform for discovering young talents for Vietnamese football.

The ceremony took place on the afternoon of July 10 at VFF headquarters, attended by Federation leaders, club representatives, and sponsors. During the event, VFF announced that Red Dragon Energy Drink (URC Vietnam Co., Ltd.) becomes the main sponsor of the finals. This is the first time this brand partners with a national football tournament, contributing to improved organization and providing additional motivation for young players.

Right after the ceremony, the organizing committee conducted the group draw. According to the results, Group A is considered very balanced with the participation of host LPBank HAGL, The Cong Viettel 1, Da Nang, and PVF. Group B includes Song Lam Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City FC, PVF-CAND, and Dong Nai, while Group C consists of Hanoi, Hue, Dong Thap, and Lam Dong. The group compositions are predicted to create intense competition from the group stage.

Notably, Hanoi enters the tournament as defending champion and will face many challenges in their quest to retain the title. Besides traditional powerhouses like Song Lam Nghe An, The Cong Viettel, and LPBank HAGL, many other teams also possess quality young squads after impressive performances in the qualifiers, promising to create surprises at this year's event.

Speaking at the ceremony, VFF leaders affirmed the success of Vietnam U17 team in securing a spot for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 is evidence of the effectiveness of the domestic youth training system. Therefore, the National U17 Finals continue to be seen as a crucial link in selecting and nurturing promising players for future national teams. The sponsor's partnership is also expected to help elevate the tournament's quality.

With the participation of 12 strong teams and many promising young players, the finals of the 2026 National U17 Championship – Red Dragon Cup are expected to deliver high-quality and exciting matches. All games will be broadcast live on VTVcab system and VFF platforms, allowing fans nationwide to follow the journey to find the new champion of Vietnamese youth football.