The 2026 AFC U23 Championship semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 China will be a confrontation between two completely opposite schools of thought. That is the diverse attacking power of Vietnam and China's tight and disciplined defense system.
U23 China became a special phenomenon at the tournament when they advanced to the semi-finals without conceding any goals. They built a playing style based on a low defense, disciplined and tight organization, often likened to "parking a bus in front of the goal".
The foundation of that system lies in the excellent performance of goalkeeper Ly Hao. The goalkeeper born in 2004 played extremely impressively in the quarter-final match against U23 Uzbekistan, helping China stand firm against huge pressure for 120 minutes of play. However, that perfect defense will face the biggest challenge since the beginning of the tournament when facing U23 Vietnam.
U23 China always maintains a competitive spirit in each match. Being in the U23 Asian semi-finals is already the biggest dream of U23 China. Already in this round, the whole team will fight their best for a ticket to play in the final" - coach Antonio Puche said.
Under coach Kim Sang-sik, U23 Vietnam is possessing one of the most flexible attacks in the tournament. "Golden Star Warriors" can approach the opponent's goal with many different options from central coordination, sideline exploitation, high balls to fixed situations.
We have always met strong teams, like U23 Jordan, U23 UAE, but we all did our job well, won. When we met U23 UAE in extra time, we also scored a goal" - coach Kim Sang-sik said before the match against China.
In particular, factors like Nguyen Dinh Bac or Nguyen Le Phat bring the ability to create direct breakthroughs in the front line. Meanwhile, the regulating and keeping pace role of captain Khuat Van Khang is considered the key to breaking down defensive "concrete blocks" like China's.
The bravery of U23 Vietnam has also been proven through the breathtaking 3-2 victory over U23 UAE. This is a match that clearly shows the ability to withstand pressure and score at the right time of Kim Sang-sik's team.
Vietnamese football once missed the 2018 AFC U23 Championship championship, when the golden generation of Quang Hai, Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong collapsed against Uzbekistan in the final in Changzhou. That is a memory that is both beautiful and poignant. 8 years later, history opens up a new opportunity for another generation, no less talented.
In terms of head-to-head record at the U22/U23 level, Vietnam is slightly ahead of China with 2 wins, 2 draws and one defeat. In the most recent encounter, U23 Vietnam defeated U23 China with a score of 1-0 at Panda Cup 2025 thanks to Pham Minh Phuc's goal.
Score prediction: U23 Vietnam 2-1 U23 China
The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 China takes place at 10:30 PM on January 20.
