U23 China is considered the biggest phenomenon of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals. From a team that was not highly rated, they continuously surpassed strong opponents to register their name in the final. This has never happened in the history of youth football in this country.
In the semi-finals, U23 China surprised experts with a convincing performance against U23 Vietnam. The 3-0 victory showed the effectiveness in finishing and the reasonable approach to the match of the team from East Asia.
They proactively control the tempo, keep the formation close and make full use of mistakes in the opponent's defense to finish the match. Keeping a clean sheet in many consecutive matches is also a clear proof of the balance in U23 China's playing style.
However, the biggest challenge is still waiting for U23 China ahead when the opponent in the final is defending champion U23 Japan.
Blue Samurai" are showing superior strength with a winning streak, scoring many goals and not conceding any since the beginning of the tournament. The fast attack, technique and high-level pressing ability make them a team that is very difficult to stop.
Against a strong opponent, U23 China will certainly continue to be loyal to their forte counter-attacking defense. Meanwhile, U23 Japan possesses superior class and squad depth and the ability to put pressure from the beginning.
The 2026 AFC U23 Championship final between U23 Japan and U23 China takes place at 10:00 PM on January 24.
