VietNamNet Bridge – Can Tho will host the 11th Thanh Nien Newspaper International U21 Football Tournament this year, according to Le Van Tam, deputy chairman of Can Tho City’s People’s Committee.

Can Tho’s fans seen at a recent tournament. Can Tho will host the 11th Thanh Nien Newspaper International U21 Football Tournament this year. — Photo bongdanet.vn

“The city has upgraded its stadium to be ready to organise the event,” said Tam.

Can Tho previously held the event in 2014. Its stadium welcomed more than 50,000 watchers for the final match of that year’s tournament.

According to the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF), three foreign teams have confirmed their participation in the tourney, namely defending champions Japan’s Yokohama, the runners-up Thailand and Myanmar.

Viet Nam will send an U18 team and an U21 team to Can Tho.

The U18 team will be guided by coach Hoang Anh Tuan. They will partake in the qualifying round of the AFC U19 Championship against Laos, China’s Macau and Chinese Taipei before competing in Can Tho’s event.

Meanwhile, the U21 team will be chosen via the upcoming qualifying round and final round of the National U21 Football Championship. 

Many young talents, who competed in the final round of FIFA U20 World Cup held in South Korea in May such as Phan Thanh Hau, Dinh Thanh Binh, Luong Hoang Nam, Tran Thanh Son and Tran Thanh, are expected to be named in the team.

The event is scheduled to kick off on December 12-22. Five teams will compete in a round robin format. The best two teams will compete in the final. 

VNS