Vietnam

Vietnam U-19 head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi has identified the Indonesian national team as the most formidable obstacle for his squad in the upcoming 2026 ASEAN U-19 Championship.

The Vietnamese youth team has concluded its final preparations before departing for Indonesia to compete in the regional tournament. Scheduled to take place from June 1 to June 14, the competition is viewed as a critical stepping stone toward the 2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

In the group stage draw, Vietnam was placed in Group A alongside the host nation Indonesia, Timor Leste, and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Malaysia U-19 head coach recently explained his decision to call up the son of Persib Bandung’s coach, noting that the player possesses a unique quality.

Analyzing the competition within the group, Ikeuchi explicitly labeled Indonesia as their toughest rival. The Japanese tactician noted that Indonesia possesses a highly competitive squad, largely due to the inclusion of numerous players who previously featured in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Despite the high level of competition, Ikeuchi remains determined to lead his team to the 2026 ASEAN U-19 Championship title. “Indonesia is undoubtedly a very strong opponent,” Ikeuchi said, as quoted by SuperBall.id via VTC News.

“However, our goal remains to progress as far as possible and secure the highest possible ranking in this tournament,” he added.

Vietnam dedicated nearly a month to an intensive training camp (TC) to ensure the squad is ready for the challenges ahead. Ikeuchi and his players are also keeping their sights on the long-term objective of qualifying for the 2027 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.

Although the team is not traveling to Indonesia with its absolute strongest lineup due to the absence of several key players, Ikeuchi remains confident in the depth of his roster. “It is true that some players I wanted to see included are unavailable for objective reasons. However, we still have many other high-quality players at our disposal,” Ikeuchi explained.

The Malaysia U-19 coach further emphasized that the son of the Persib Bandung strategist provides significant added value to his current squad.

Ikeuchi also shared insights into his coaching philosophy, which focuses on a synchronized offensive and defensive style. He expects every player to be fully integrated into both phases of the game. “I want all players to participate in both attack and defense in a coordinated manner,” he stated.

Furthermore, Ikeuchi expressed that he is not intimidated by the pressure to deliver results, despite the recent positive performances of Vietnam’s U-23 and senior national teams. “For me, coaching is naturally filled with pressure. With the rapid evolution of Vietnamese football, I always hope to contribute significantly to our success,” he said.

According to the official schedule, Vietnam will launch their Group A campaign against Timor Leste on June 1. They will then face Myanmar on June 4, followed by a high-stakes encounter against Indonesia three days later.

All matches are set to be held in North Sumatra, with the top two teams from the group advancing to the semifinals. As part of their rigorous preparation, Vietnam participated in four friendly matches against Japanese teams to sharpen their tactical execution.