Vietnam's Asian Cup group mirrors U17 team's challenge

Vietnam's national football team has been drawn into Group E for the 2027 Asian Cup, where they will compete against South Korea, the UAE, and Yemen. Yemen secured their place in the group by defeating Lebanon in a qualifying match, creating a mirror of the U17 Vietnam team's group in the 2026 U17 Asian Cup, which also featured South Korea, UAE, and Yemen.

In the U17 tournament, Vietnam advanced to the quarterfinals after a mixed performance against these opponents. The national team now has significant preparation time before the 2027 Asian Cup, with upcoming tournaments including the ASEAN Cup 2026 and the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Coach Kim Sang Sik is reportedly finalizing a preliminary squad and planning a training camp in South Korea, which will involve matches against local clubs.

Further complicating team preparations, potential conflicts arise with domestic club schedules. A meeting between national team coach Kim Sang Sik and Club Cong An Ha Noi's coach Alexandre Polking addressed concerns about player availability. Key players like Quang Hai and Dinh Bac may miss crucial national team matches due to their club's participation in AFC Champions League Elite playoffs, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing club and national team needs.