Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s U22 national team will participate in the CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025, which will take place in Chengdu, China’s Sichuan province from November 12 to 18, as part of the preparation plan for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The tournament will feature four highly promising U22 teams, namely the Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan, host China, and Vietnam. This marks the third consecutive time that the Vietnam U22 squad has been invited to this prestigious tournament organised by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
Not only is this a result of the Memorandum of Understanding on football development cooperation signed between the Vietnam Football Federation and the CFA, but Vietnam's continued participation in the tournament also reaffirms the team's reputation, technical abilities, and consistent performance on the international stage.
In their most recent participation in March 2025, under the instruction of interim head coach Dinh Hong Vinh, the Vietnamese team secured third place overall, remaining unbeaten, as it drew 1-1 with U22 the Republic of Korea, 0-0 with U22 Uzbekistan, and 1-1 with host U22 China. Goalkeeper Cao Van Binh was voted the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament by the organisers.
This tournament is considered an important preparatory step for teams heading toward the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. For the Vietnam U22 team, it will provide valuable international exposure, helping the coaching staff continue refining the squad, testing personnel and tactics, and serving as a key stepping stone before the final preparations for the 33rd SEA Games.
According to the plan, the Vietnamese squad will regroup at the same time as the men’s national team during the FIFA Days next month./.
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