From Changzhou 2018 to the youth tournaments in 2026, Vietnamese football has gone through nearly a decade of many emotions. That was a time when two different generations of U23 were called "successful", but in different ways. Also because of the difference, putting them on the scale is actually just an emotional factor from individuals who like comparison. Therefore, more importantly, it is to answer a very practical question about the development path ahead.
2018 of the elite
In comparison perspectives, looking back at 2018, experts call this generation of players the "golden generation". Or more familiarly, the "golden generation". U23 Vietnam at that time came to light in a special context. The national football scene at that time went through many years of probing, lacking clear direction after the peak of the 2008 AFF Cup. Thanks to the thinking and development of some quality clubs in youth training, U23 Vietnam is a combination of talented factors, with a framework that understands each other very well to compete.
The success of the generation of players such as: Quang Hai, Van Hau, Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Van Thanh, Duy Manh, Tien Dung comes not only from expertise, but also from time factors. That was the first time Vietnamese youth football had a foreign coach of sufficient stature, prestige and patience to build a team according to a clear philosophy. Park Hang-seo, with the magic wand named "order", he combined it with improvisation to create a difference.
The team's playing style in 2018 is not modern in European terms, but very suitable for Vietnamese people at that time. Multiple defense, tactical discipline, rapid state change and taking advantage of moments of individuals with the ability to create breakthroughs. Quang Hai with a different left foot, Cong Phuong with recklessness, Van Hau with superior physical foundation... That is a team where the value of each individual is maximized thanks to a tight tactical structure.
Going together for a few years, they also helped the National Team show a different face. Together with U23, they set a milestone for Vietnamese football to believe for the first time that they can compete fairly in the continental arena, they stood side by side when the National Team crossed the line to reach the third stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. However, like previous stages, when dependent on a generation of elite players, success usually does not last long.
2026 of thinking
Nearly a decade later, Vietnamese youth football is showing a different face. Young players are trained more broadly, in better conditions, opportunities to play in the V.League are also greater, players have access to sports science, nutrition, and early data analysis. They are no longer "phenomena", but the product of a relatively methodical training process. The difference lies there. If the 2018 generation has clearly outstanding individuals, the 2026 generation is biased towards uniformity. Few players create the feeling of "star", but many can play at a good level in the system.
And when most of coach Kim Sang-sik's personnel changes are effective, it is clear that the gap between the main squad and the reserve squad is not large. The fact that U23 Vietnam did not reach the final is easily considered "not as good as their seniors in Changzhou", but in the current context, reaching the Top 4 strongest teams at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship is no less successful. Why? Because the players' performances show tactical initiative, not momentary endurance and escape. That is thanks to a more stable level of skills.
This is a step forward, but it also poses challenges. In top football, uniformity is only a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition. Decisive moments are still often decided by outstanding individuals.
In terms of playing style, U23 Vietnam in the later stages was clearly influenced by the more modern trend. Controlling the ball more, trying to deploy from the lower line, organized pressing. However, remember that this is just a playground for young people, where experience and bravery often do not have too much difference, but spirit is an important factor. The chain break in important links in the semi-final match with U23 China has confirmed that.
Which path does Vietnamese football choose?
When young players currently have impressive performances from SEA Games 33 (winning Gold Medals) to U23 Asian Cup (in the Top 4), the assessment of giving them opportunities in the domestic arena affirms the value and correctness with any country, not just Vietnam. Also because Vietnamese football currently does not have any players going abroad, then of course the only way is to place faith in generational waves.
The problem is that, when it has begun to open up to overseas Vietnamese players and to some extent the factor of naturalization, which path will Vietnamese football choose? Comparing people between generations is only relative, but considering between development methods will become important for Vietnamese football to maintain sustainable or short-term success.
Do we continue to wait for a "pure" generation - not always available, where a few outstanding individuals shoulder the entire system? Or do we accept going on a more difficult path, upgrading training to create a balanced level of players, with modern tactical thinking, capable of adapting to many different systems?
Reality shows that the model of dependence on individual talent always contains risks. When the golden generation passes, the gap left is very large. Conversely, even training does not bring immediate success, but creates a solid foundation. The problem is that Vietnamese football has long lacked patience. We are easily engrossed in victory, but also easily confused when the results are not as expected.
The road ahead is probably not in choosing one of the two, but in balance. Equal training to raise the general level, and at the same time create a mechanism to detect, nurture and protect truly special individuals. In other words, not ignoring the quintessence but on the foundation of uniformity, such factors are upgraded, so that Vietnamese football can gradually lift its wings.
From 2018 to 2026, Vietnamese youth football has gone a long way. Not always brilliant, but enough to understand that success should not be measured by a tournament or a generation. The bigger story lies in how we prepare for the next 5 or 10 years. Because football, in the end, is not a sprint. It is a long journey, where real value only reveals when people are patient enough.
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