The 2026 AFC U23 Championship gathers 16 of the strongest teams in the region, in which U23 Vietnam participates with the goal of passing the group stage and going deep in the continental arena.
According to the draw results, coach Kim Sang-sik's team is in Group A with opponents U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan and U23 Saudi Arabia.
Before the tournament, U23 Vietnam completed a short training trip in Qatar. During this time, the team had a training match with U23 Syria with a narrow 1-2 defeat. Although the result was not as expected, this is considered an opportunity for the coaching staff to review the force, assess the performance of each player as well as experiment with tactical options before entering the official tournament.
Regarding personnel, U23 Vietnam is facing some difficulties when goalkeeper Nguyen Tan is injured and replaced by Pham Dinh Hai. Meanwhile, striker Thanh Nhan has problems with fitness and his ability to play is still uncertain.
These changes forced Mr. Kim Sang-sik to carefully calculate to ensure balance and depth of the squad in the context of a tight schedule.
According to the schedule, U23 Vietnam will begin their journey at the AFC U23 Championship finals with their opening match against U23 Jordan at 6:30 PM on January 6 (Vietnam time).
In the second match, U23 Vietnam will continue to face U23 Kyrgyzstan at 9 pm on January 9. The final group stage match is considered the biggest challenge when U23 Vietnam faces U23 Saudi Arabia at 11:30 pm on January 12.
All matches of U23 Vietnam at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals will be broadcast live on the TV360 platform, helping domestic fans fully follow the team's journey.
