Organisers conduct a draw for the National U17 Football Championship -- Thái Sơn Nam Cup in Hà Nội on March 6. Photos of VFF

HÀ NỘI — Hoàng Anh Gia Lai will play PVF in the opening match of the National U17 Football Championship - Thái Sơn Nam Cup on March 10 after a draw conducted in Hà Nội on March 6.

The duo are with SHB Đà Nẵng and Hà Nội in Group A, which promises tough matches for all as all of them are from strong football hubs in the country.

The 2023 tournament features 12 teams in three groups.

Group B gathers Huế, Sông Lam Nghệ An, Khánh Hòa and Đồng Tháp while Group C includes Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, HCM City, Viettel and Bình Phước.

Teams will compete in a round robin format at the PVF Football Training Centre in Hưng Yên Province and Thanh Trì Stadium in Hà Nội.

The three top teams in the group stage, three second-place teams and two third-place clubs will advance to the quarter-finals.

The final match will be on March 21 with the champions walking away with VNĐ100 million (US$4,200).

The second- and third-place teams will enjoy VNĐ80 million ($3,400) and VNĐ50 million (2,100), respectively.

The organisers will also deliver awards for the MVP, top scorer and best goalkeeper who will receive VNĐ10 million ($420) each.

Also on March 6, the Việt Nam Football Federation signed a three-year sponsorship contract with Thái Sơn Nam Group Joinstock Company.

VFF General Secretary Dương Nghiệp Khôi (left) and Thái Sơn Nam Group Deputy General Director Trần Anh Minh at the sponsorship signing ceremony on March 6.

The deal runs from 2023 to 2025, marking a return of a familiar sponsor to Vietnamese youth football.

Earlier, Thái Sơn Nam sponsored the U17 tournament for eight years from 2011 to 2019.

"Việt Nam's youth football has made an impressive improvement recently with their achievements at regional to continental levels," said VFF General Secretary Dương Nghiệp Khôi.

"These players will be core force for the national team and shape up Việt Nam football in the future," he said.

Addressing the event, Trần Anh Minh, Thái Sơn Nam Group deputy general director, said: "We were happy to see the development of Vietnamese young generations during the time we were with the team in the past."

"Many of them have become key elements of the U23 and national teams which created brilliant successes that enthralled fans across the country," he said.

"It is the top reason that we decided to continue our task. Thái Sơn Nam is honoured and proud to continue contributing to the development of Vietnamese football as the main sponsor of the U17 tournament, having our name in the proper name of the event for three years. We have our faith with the young players and hope that our support will help the players in particular and Việt Nam's football in general step to a higher level in the future,” he said. VNS