Vietnam U17 will make Southeast Asian history by defeating Malaysia

Vietnam U17 stands before the chance to become the most frequent champion in Southeast Asian U17 history if they defeat Malaysia in the final.

The Vietnam U17 team created an emotional comeback by defeating the reigning champion Australia U17 with a 2-1 score in the semifinal on April 22, thereby securing a place in the final of the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship. At this point, it can be confirmed that Vietnam U17 is the most promising candidate for the championship.

Ultimately, Vietnam U17 achieved a 2-1 victory, excellently earning a ticket to the final. The opponent for Coach Cristiano Roland and his team will be Malaysia U17, which overcame Laos U17 with a 3-0 score in the other semifinal. Previously, in the group stage, Vietnam U17 had secured a 4-0 victory against this same opponent.

With Thailand U17 eliminated from the group stage and Australia U17 just eliminated by Vietnam U17, Coach Roland and his team are facing the opportunity to become the most frequent champion in the tournament's history. Currently, Vietnam U17 has three championship titles in 2006, 2010, and 2017, equal to Australia U17 and Thailand U17, but both of these teams have been eliminated and have no further chance to win.

After the impressive victory over Australia U17, Coach Cristiano Roland extended Vietnam U17's unbeaten streak to 15 consecutive matches. During this period, the young Vietnamese team achieved 11 wins and 4 draws, scoring up to 56 goals and conceding only 4 goals. This is a remarkable achievement for a young squad, especially as they continuously faced strong opponents in the region and continent.

That streak of rising performance began from the 2025 Asian U17 qualifiers, where Vietnam U17 played with great determination to earn a place in the final round. Under Coach Roland's guidance, the team showed clear maturity in both tactics and competitive mentality.

At the 2025 Asian U17 Finals, although they could not secure a spot for the U17 World Cup, Vietnam U17 left a strong impression by remaining unbeaten in the group stage. Notably, they successfully drew against very strong opponents such as Australia U17, UAE U17, and especially Japan U17, thereby receiving praise from experts.

Moving to the 2026 Asian U17 qualifiers, the team continued to maintain impressive stability with a perfect record of 5 wins. Vietnam U17 scored up to 30 goals and kept a completely clean sheet. The disciplined style of play, quick transition ability, and solid defensive system are becoming distinct trademarks that Coach Roland has built for this young generation of players.

Malaysian fans reacted sharply when Vietnam reversed the outcome against Australia

Turning the tide to defeat Australia, Vietnam U17 advances to the final