Determined to focus on youth training, Chairman Doan Nguyen Duc has conceived and coordinated the organization of the Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival 2026, with a total prize pool of up to $40,000 USD.
On the afternoon of April 16, the Organizing Committee of the Gia Lai International U14 Football Festival 2026 held a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City to introduce the tournament. The event is co-organized by the People’s Committee of Gia Lai Province, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club, and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).
This is a prominent activity within the series of events for the 2026 National Tourism Year – Gia Lai, contributing to promoting the local image through sports.
The tournament will take place from May 11 to 17 at Pleiku Stadium and the Ham Rong Training Center, with the participation of 12 football teams.
In addition to 5 domestic representatives such as PVF, Song Lam Nghe An, Hanoi, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai, and LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai, there are 7 international teams including Malaysia, Jubilo Iwata (Japan), Gangwon FC, Mohyeon (South Korea), Shenzhen (China), Chonburi (Thailand), and Khamsay (Laos).
Not only does it provide a valuable playing field for young players to gain experience, but the tournament also has a total prize pool of up to $40,000 USD (approximately 1.05 billion VND). The champion team will receive a $20,000 USD cash prize (approximately 526 million VND).
The press conference was attended by the former head coach of the Vietnam national team, who is also the Vice President of the Korea Football Association, the President of the Vietnam Football Federation Tran Quoc Tuan, and Chairman Doan Nguyen Duc – President of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group.
Speaking at the press conference, Chairman Duc shared: “We once established the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Arsenal JMG Academy, which became part of the club’s and Vietnamese football’s history. It was the first professional model following European football standards.
However, we have never properly organized a youth tournament. Why do we underestimate youth football when it determines the future?
That is the reason we created this magnificent tournament and will strive to maintain it as a regular event (every 2-3 years). If we don’t work on youth football, it will fade into oblivion.”
Focus and maximum effort are needed for the development of youth football
Coach Park Hang Seo also highly appreciated this youth tournament. He said: “I am very happy to meet you all again at such a meaningful event. I have always believed that training, developing, and nurturing young talent is the future and focus of Vietnamese football.
I am very passionate about what Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc is building at the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Academy. Therefore, for Vietnamese football to develop sustainably, we need to focus and put maximum effort into the development of youth football.”
For his part, VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan said: “I warmly welcome the initiative of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club in implementing this meaningful program, facilitating exchanges with domestic and foreign clubs, and creating a playing field for the athletes.
Youth football is the future of the entire football system. Hoang Anh Gia Lai collaborated with Arsenal FC to open the first football training academy in Vietnam, paving the way for other localities and clubs to upgrade their football centers into academies, contributing many talented players to Vietnamese football.
And now, creating an additional international playing field for Vietnamese players to gain experience
