Vietnam's under-17 team held their first training session in Dubai on November 6, hours after arriving in the United Arab Emirates for the final stage of preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said coach Cristiano Roland's squad settled into their accommodation before taking to the training ground.
The pitch is about a 20-minute bus ride from the hotel, according to the federation. It reported temperatures of 25-36 degrees Celsius in Dubai, where the players are adjusting before their planned onward journey to Qatar.
Training and Fiji warm-up
VFF's schedule calls for training at 16:00 local time on November 6, 7 and 8. A practice match against Fiji's under-17 side is planned for 18:00 local time on November 9. The later sessions and fixture are scheduled events and remain subject to change.
Tuổi Trẻ reported that the delegation left Hanoi at 00:35 Vietnam time on November 6 and arrived in Dubai at 05:00 local time, or 08:00 in Vietnam. It said the travelling group included 25 players and that Roland planned to reduce the registered squad to 21 before the trip to Qatar.
The final leg to Qatar
VFF said the team planned to travel from Dubai to Doha on November 10. Tuổi Trẻ reported that the tournament would run from November 19 to December 13, with 48 teams in 12 groups. Vietnam are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Mali.
Under the format described by the newspaper, the top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stage. The UAE camp gives the coaching staff time to assess the squad and its adjustment to local conditions. See also Vietnam national team fixtures.