Brazilian coach leads Vietnam U17 to conquer 2026 U17 World Cup

Brazilian coach Cristiano Roland is writing history for Vietnamese youth football. In the first training session after the SEA U17 Championships, he declared: 'We are not going to the World Cup as tourists. The goal is to advance past the group stage.' Context: Vietnam U17 won the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship and reached the 2026 Asian U17 Championship quarterfinals as group winners, securing their first-ever U17 World Cup spot in 2026 – an unprecedented achievement. The VFF worked with Hanoi Club to retain Coach Roland, who simultaneously coaches the capital's V-League side. This coordination reflects long-term vision and trust in his 'mindset and quick decision-making' philosophy. Core analysis: At the World Cup, Vietnam U17 is drawn into Group G with Belgium, New Zealand, and Mali. This is an extreme challenge: Belgium and Mali have top-tier youth development systems, while New Zealand, though weaker, has superior physicality. Preparations hit a snag when an international friendly tournament in Thailand was cancelled due to visa issues. Instead, VFF plans a training camp in the UAE in September to adapt to the climate and face strong West Asian opponents. Contrarian perspective: Many believe that a debut World Cup appearance should just be about 'learning'. But Coach Roland sets a target of advancing – an ambition that may be overly stretched. The reality is Vietnam U17 has never faced youth teams of Belgium's or Mali's caliber. Data from junior competitions shows a significant gap in physicality and speed. Relying solely on spirit could lead to collapse. Takeaway: The biggest lesson for this U17 generation isn't match results, but how they handle pressure. If they overcome the 'self-doubt' psychological barrier as the coach himself admitted, they will lay a solid foundation for Vietnamese football for the next 5-10 years. Let's see if this 'touch off the pitch' can transform an entire generation of players.