Imprint at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship
8 years after the Changzhou 2018 miracle, U23 Vietnam has advanced deep again in the AFC U23 Championship finals. The journey at this year's tournament shows the outstanding progress of Vietnamese youth football, reflected in the results of competition and professional quality in each match.
U23 Vietnam won against a series of highly rated opponents such as Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE or South Korea. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team also set new milestones such as winning 5/6 matches, winning all matches in the group stage for the first time and ranking first in Group A. In the knockout round, U23 Vietnam defeated UAE after 120 minutes of tension, before stopping in the semi-finals and closing the tournament with a victory over U23 Korea in the third-place match.
Against an opponent who has repeatedly dominated youth football in Asia, U23 Vietnam played fairly, controlled the game well and maintained concentration throughout 120 minutes. Winning in the penalty shootout shows that their fighting spirit has improved significantly compared to previous generations.
Personally, Nguyen Dinh Bac is the most prominent name. With 4 goals, the striker born in 2004 surpassed many opponents from developed football backgrounds such as: Japan, Uzbekistan... to win the title of "Top Scorer" of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, becoming the first Vietnamese player to reach this milestone. In addition to Dinh Bac, many other players also made their mark through the "Player of the Match" title such as central defender Hieu Minh, midfielder Thai Son, goalkeeper Cao Van Binh or Dinh Bac himself.
It is noteworthy that U23 Vietnam does not depend on a specific individual. Goals are scored in many positions, from strikers, midfielders to set pieces. A stable operating system, good tactics and adaptability to each opponent... are key factors helping the team maintain their form throughout the tournament.
Opportunity to join the national team
Success at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship opens up opportunities for many U23 Vietnam players to get closer to the national team. In fact, many names have been pillars at the club before participating in the tournament, creating a great advantage in the competition at the national team level.
In the goalkeeper position, Tran Trung Kien and Cao Van Binh are both regular starters in the V.League. The defense recorded the stability of Nhat Minh, Hieu Minh or Ly Duc, players who are familiar with the top competition environment in the country. Unfortunately, Hieu Minh suffered a ligament injury and had to be sidelined for 6-9 months.
The midfield is an area with many potential factors. Nguyen Thai Son always maintains the ability to control the game, distribute the ball and compete effectively. Khuat Van Khang, Viktor Le or Xuan Bac all show flexibility in their playing style and the ability to meet tactical requirements in many different roles.
In attack, Nguyen Dinh Bac emerged as a top candidate for the national team. Winning the Golden Boot title at the AFC U23 Championship shows the ability to take advantage of opportunities and stability in finishing, a factor that the Vietnamese team needs in the context of rebuilding the force.
Coach Kim Sang-sik highly appreciates the collective spirit of this generation of players and believes that they have the potential to contribute to the national team in the coming time. He shared: "U23 Vietnam does not have any outstanding individuals, it is all a cohesive bloc to create such a squad. I am very much looking forward to this generation of players when they have more experience and confidence after the recent good achievements, they will have a great opportunity to serve the national team.
From a long-term perspective, the strategy of using young players still depends on their form at the club. The Korean coach emphasized: "The door of the national team is always open for U23 Vietnam players. In the near future, the players will return to the club, I hope they play well. With what I have shared during the competition, I hope they will improve their abilities. For example: Dinh Bac, Thai Son, Phi Hoang, Ly Duc, Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh... all have opportunities if they perform well".
In the context of the Vietnamese national team preparing for important tournaments such as the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers or ASEAN Cup 2026, the U23 generation that just won the Asian bronze medal is considered a necessary supplement. Their integration into the national team will depend on the process of maintaining form, tactical adaptation ability and internal competition in the coming time.
