HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s U19 team is ready to compete in the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U19 Championship’s finals in Indonesia, according to head coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn.

The team will meet Jordan in the opening game of Group C today.

Việt Nam confirmed their place in AFC final after topping Group G of the event’s qualifying round last year, while Jordan ranked first in Group E.

Jordan defeated neighbours Palestine 2-0 and Syria 2-1 either side of a crucial 0-0 draw with Iran to return to the AFC U19 Championship for the first time in six years.

At this year’s event, Jordan hope to earn a qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup for the second time after debuting in 2006.

Việt Nam entered the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2017 following a history-making semi-final appearance at the AFC U19 Championship in 2016, so Tuấn’s sights are set on qualifying for the 2019 edition.

Besides Jordan, Việt Nam will face 12-time champions South Korea and Australia, who have been to the FIFA U20 World Cup 15 times and reached the AFC U19 Championship final in 2010.

“Jordan, South Korea and Australia are very strong. But we have suitable tactics to face them. We will try our best in every game, firstly with Jordan,” said Tuấn.

Yesterday, Tuấn finalised his list of 22 out of 23 players to prepare for the tournament. He said he saved one place for defender Đoàn Văn Hậu, who is training with the national team to prepare for the AFF Cup in South Korea.

“We have to give priority to the national team. I only registered 22 out of 23 players for the AFC U19 event. There is one more slot. I save it for Hậu. We will use Hậu any players are injured,” said Tuấn.

Hậu, 19, plays for V.League 1 defending champions Hà Nội FC and has been tipped as a potential young star of Group A in the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup.

To prepare for the AFC event, Việt Nam have trained in China and Qatar.

To encourage Việt Nam, Falcon Paint has announced that it will give players US$500 for each goal scored in the match with Jordan today.

Việt Nam will next face Australia on October 22 and South Korea on October 25.

The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in Poland next year. — VNS