U23 Vietnam entered the journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship Finals with a match against U23 Jordan - the most highly rated opponent in the group. The match at King Abdullah Sports City Hall (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) not only has the meaning of points, but is also a measure of the bravery of coach Kim Sang-sik's team in the continental arena.
U23 Jordan showed remarkable strength right from the qualifying round when they won all 3 matches, scored 19 goals and only conceded 1 goal. Before the tournament, the West Asian representative continued to attract attention when drawing with two championship contenders, U23 Japan and U23 Uzbekistan in friendly matches. These results helped U23 Jordan enter the tournament with great confidence and ambition to go deep.
Under the guidance of coach Omar Najhi, U23 Jordan possesses a physical, disciplined playing style and is not short of outstanding individuals such as Odeh Fakhouri or Ibrahim Sabra. This team has participated in the AFC U23 Championship finals 6 times, the best achievement is 3rd place, and set a goal to win all 3 points in the opening match.
In the opposite direction, U23 Vietnam has prepared carefully for the tournament, despite experiencing certain losses in force. Striker Vi Hao had to leave the tournament due to injury, while Thanh Nhan's ability to play is still uncertain.
However, the coaching staff soon considered alternative options, and at the same time maintained the stable framework that helped the team win the SEA Games 33 Gold Medal.
In terms of playing style, coach Kim Sang-sik is unlikely to change too much compared to the previous period. U23 Vietnam still prioritizes solidity in defense, midfield control and good utilization of transition situations. Names like Trung Kien, Thai Son, Van Khang or Dinh Bac are expected to make a difference.
Considering the force balance, U23 Vietnam is not rated as highly as the opponent. However, the strength of the red shirt team lies in the cohesion, fighting spirit and ability to adhere to tactics. The opening match is therefore of key significance, not only in the race to win tickets to the quarterfinals, but also to affirm the maturity of U23 Vietnam after success in the regional arena.
A positive result against U23 Jordan will create important psychological momentum for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team, and at the same time open up opportunities for fair competition in this considered challenging group.
Score prediction: U23 Vietnam 1-1 U23 Jordan
