U20 Vietnam fails to qualify for 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup

The U20 Vietnam national football team has failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup after losing all three qualifying matches against North Korea, Palestine, and Iran. Due to their performance, the team will be relegated to the Development Phase for the 2029 cycle, meaning they will not be eligible to compete for a spot in the 2029 finals unless they finish in the top two of their group during that phase.

Experts attribute the failure to a lack of competitive experience against diverse footballing styles and insufficient preparation time. This setback has raised concerns regarding the country's youth training systems, particularly as the U23 squad prepares for the upcoming Asiad tournament. To mitigate the long-term impact of missing multiple continental tournaments, some suggest Vietnam could host the 2029 U20 Asian Cup to ensure their youth players remain active on the international stage.

Meanwhile, the U23 Vietnam team is preparing for the Asiad tournament. The squad is expected to benefit from a highly cohesive attacking unit, as several key players, including Le Phat and Cong Phuong, train together daily at Ninh Binh FC.