Next Generation Vietnam: a youth football selection in Hanoi

Two young talents, Mai Viet Dung (Ha Tinh FC) and Pham Viet Duy (SLNA), have been selected by Japanese experts—surpassing numerous other outstanding candidates—to travel to Japan for a training stint with the Urawa Red Diamonds.

Japanese experts select two Vietnamese talents for training with Urawa Red Diamonds

During the "Next Generation Vietnam" talent selection event—presented by Urawa Reds and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—held today, September 9, at the Viettel Sports Center in Hanoi, Japanese experts identified two exceptional young Vietnamese football talents to join the Urawa U21 squad for training.

Outperforming many other promising candidates, Mai Viet Dung (born in 2008, Ha Tinh FC) and Pham Viet Duy (born in 2009, SLNA) successfully passed an in-depth evaluation covering physical fitness, technical skills, tactical awareness, and adaptability.

Two young Vietnamese talents selected to train in Japan with the former Asian champions.

The two young players will have the opportunity to live and train within the Urawa U21 system in Japan for two weeks. This training program is expected to help them familiarize themselves with the high-intensity training, tactical demands, professional discipline, and daily life of a Japanese football club—providing them with invaluable experience for their future professional football careers.

Notably, Urawa Red Diamonds are former champions of the AFC Champions League Elite. The club—known for its iconic red kit—has won the Asian continental title three times, participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, and stands as one of the most decorated Japanese clubs on the international stage. In the 2022 AFC Champions League Elite, Urawa defeated Hanoi FC 6-0 in the first leg at Saitama Stadium, but suffered a surprise 1-2 loss in the return leg at My Dinh Stadium.

The "Next Generation Vietnam" program brought together over 30 promising young players from clubs including The Cong-Viettel, Hanoi FC, Hai Phong, SLNA, and Ha Tinh.

"Next Generation Vietnam" aims to identify, nurture, and connect young Vietnamese players with the Japanese football landscape. The program provides an additional avenue for international experience for players currently at a critical stage in their professional development.