U23 Vietnam's victory over U23 UAE in the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship has received special attention from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
In the summary posted on the homepage, AFC highly appreciated the ability to withstand pressure and the way U23 Vietnam handled the match in key moments, especially when they were equalized twice by the opponent but still maintained their initiative to finish the match in extra time.
According to AFC analysis, surpassing a team with a physical foundation, experience and many quality players like U23 UAE is clear evidence of the progress in the fighting spirit of the Southeast Asian representative.
The Golden Star Warriors" not only maintained high competition intensity but also showed the ability to adjust personnel reasonably, creating a difference when the match entered the decisive stage.
AFC's homepage (the-afc.com) especially emphasizes the role of young factors in this victory. Dinh Bac is considered a player who brought breakthroughs after entering the field, contributing to changing the pace of the match.
Minh Phuc was also named by AFC as the biggest highlight, with a goal in extra time that helped U23 Vietnam seal a score of 3-2 and win a ticket to the semi-finals.
AFC assessed that this is the most clear moment showing the effectiveness in the force use of the U23 Vietnam coaching staff.
Being in the group of four strongest teams in the tournament is considered a notable milestone, marking the first time since 2018 that U23 Vietnam has returned to the semi-finals of the continental arena.
AFC believes that this result helps U23 Vietnam reaffirm its position in the group of highly competitive youth teams in Asia and continue to maintain the opportunity to go deep in the tournament.
Not only receiving recognition from AFC, U23 Vietnam's victory also created a major effect in the region. On Indonesian football forums, many fans expressed high appreciation for the stability and inheritance of Vietnamese football.
Some opinions suggest that U23 Vietnam is going in the right direction and becoming a typical representative of Southeast Asia at this year's tournament.
A wave of congratulations also appeared strongly from Thailand and Cambodia. Many regional football sites praised the performance of U23 Vietnam, and admitted that coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are creating a positive image for Southeast Asian football on the continental arena.
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