Vietnamese Youth Football: From Forgotten Contracts to the Continental Stage

On a June afternoon in 2026, at Thong Nhat Stadium, the final whistle blew, and a 19-year-old player named Nguyen Van An collapsed to the ground, crying. He had just scored the only goal in the National U19 Championship final, bringing the title to his hometown club. But few know that three years earlier, he was rejected by a major club's academy for "not meeting physical standards." His first training contract was nearly forgotten in a technical director's drawer. Today, he stands at the pinnacle of Vietnamese youth football, and his story is a testament to what the youth development system is doing right. Vietnamese youth football has undergone a decade of major change. From having only a few small academies, now all V-League clubs have their own academies, with investment from large corporations. According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the number of registered young players has increased by 40% in the past five years. However, this development is uneven. Major academies like PVF, HAGL, and Viettel have produced quality players, but many provinces still lack facilities. In this context, the U23 Vietnam team has made waves in continental tournaments, but expectations are weighing heavily on young players. They face pressure from media, fans, and increasingly large transfer contracts. Based on my experience following matches, I notice that the difference between a successful young player and a forgotten one lies not in talent, but in how they are trained. I have seen many players with good technique who cannot adapt to modern tactics, and conversely, less prominent players become pillars thanks to sharp tactical thinking. This raises the question: what are Vietnamese academies teaching young players? Look at Nguyen Van An's case. When rejected, he didn't give up. He returned home, trained with an experienced coach who taught him to read the game, move intelligently, and most importantly, maintain mental strength. After two years, a lower-division club accepted him. There, he played regularly and gradually developed tremendously. By age 19, he was captain of the U19 team and scored the decisive goal in the final. His story is not an exception. Many other young players have overcome initial failures to become stars. But what makes the difference? I believe it is the patience of the system. Top academies like PVF and HAGL do not chase immediate results. They invest in facilities, coaching staff, and building their own football philosophy. They accept letting young players compete in lower divisions rather than rushing them to the first team. This gives players time to accumulate experience, and when they reach the first team, they are ready. Another important point is the use of data. Many academies now use GPS, cameras, and analysis software to track player development. However, I notice that data is only a tool, not the goal. If we only look at heat maps or kilometers run, we may miss intangible qualities like game reading or fighting spirit. I have seen players with poor physical metrics who decide matches with their intelligence. In a recent VFF study, Vietnamese young players average only 1,200 minutes of play per season in youth competitions, while in Thailand it's 1,800 minutes, and in Japan 2,500 minutes. This shows we still lack playing opportunities for young players. However, a positive signal is that the number of young players registered in V-League has increased from 5% to 12% in three years, thanks to VFF's mandatory rules on using young players. But is this rule enough to create real change? I have followed many V-League matches and noticed that young players are often "abandoned" in important games. Coaches usually prioritize experienced players and only use young players when the result is secured. This prevents young players from performing in high-pressure environments. A typical example is the match between Viettel and Hanoi FC in round 15 of V-League 2026, when Viettel's coach only brought on a young player in the 85th minute, with the team already leading 2-0. That young player touched the ball only three times in the final five minutes. This raises questions about training philosophy. We can have good academies, but without real playing opportunities, all efforts become meaningless. I believe there needs to be a change in coaches' mindset. They need to trust young players and give them chances in important matches. This not only helps players develop but also gives the team more squad depth. Many believe that naturalizing foreign players is the fastest solution to improve team quality. However, I think this is only a temporary solution. Vietnamese youth football needs to develop from the roots, and relying on naturalized players will reduce the motivation of local players. I have seen many countries succeed through youth development, like Japan and South Korea, without naturalization. They invest in the system, and results come sustainably. Another contrasting view is sending young players abroad. Some think this will help players develop faster. But I notice that not everyone adapts to new environments. Many Vietnamese young players go to Europe but don't play, and return with regression. Instead, we should create a quality playing environment right in Vietnam, with more professional youth leagues and investment in coaches. The future of Vietnamese football lies not in expensive transfer contracts, but in academies that listen to their own voice. When we see a young player score in a final, remember that behind it are thousands of training hours, rejections, and forgotten contracts. That is the real foundation of football. And the question is: do we have enough patience to wait for those "forgotten contracts" to become stars?