Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament 2025 - THACO Cup: Regional qualifying round held in Nha Trang

The qualifying round of the southern central and central highland region of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament 2025 - THACO Cup is expected to take place in Nha Trang City from January 10 to 18, 2025. 6 teams will compete in this regional qualifying round hosted by Nha Trang University for a spot in the final round scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2025.

Players of Nha Trang University team

he organizing committee of the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament 2025 - THACO Cup held a ceremony to announce the tournament, make the draw lots and divide groups for teams. Accordingly, the qualifying round of the 3rd edition is expected to take place from December 28, 2024 to January 18, 2025, joined by 67 teams from universities and colleges nationwide. The teams are divided into 6 groups according to regions: northern region; coastal central region; southern central and central highland region; southeast region; southwest region, and Ho Chi Minh City. 11 most excellent teams will join the host team Ton Duc Thang University in the final round scheduled for March 2025.

As reported by the organizing committee, this year’s tournament allows each team to register 3 students, who have played for the national U19 and U21 from 2022 to the present. 2 out of these 3 players are allowed to play together at a specific time. This is expected to improve the quality and excitement of the tournament. This year’s tournament also sees the largest number of teams (67 teams, 64 teams in 2024), including 17 debut teams. The teams will play 126 matches, including 101 qualifying matches of regional round and 25 matches of final round.

Friendly match between Nha Trang University (blue jersey) and Thai Binh Duong University

The qualifying round of the southern central and central highland region takes place at the sports ground of Nha Trang University with the participation of 6 teams: Nha Trang University, Khanh Hoa University, Nha Trang Tourism College, Thai Binh Duong University, Quy Nhon University, and Da Lat University. Single round robin format will be applied to decide 4 quarter-finalists. The winner of this qualifying round will enter the final round taking place in Ho Chi Minh City.

The hosts Nha Trang University are actively practicing for the upcoming qualifying round. As said by Nguyen Anh Tu, head coach of Nha Trang University football team, after successfully organizing the final round of the National Male Student Football Championship - SV Cup 2023, Nha Trang University have intended to promote the university’s football movement in order to make the football team of Nha Trang University a strong one in the southern central and central highland region. Reportedly, most of the players of Nha Trang University in the 2024 tournament are first-year and second-year students.

An Nhien
Translated by H.N