U23 Vietnam entered the final match in Group C of the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers with an advantage after two victories over U23 Bangladesh (2-0) and U23 Singapore (1-0). 6 absolute points and a goal difference of +3 help coach Kim Sang-sik and his team temporarily maintain the top spot, only needing another draw with U23 Yemen is guaranteed to win a direct ticket to the final round in Saudi Arabia.
The biggest support of U23 Vietnam lies in the defensive system when the team still kept a clean sheet. The cohesion of the quartet and the ability to support well between lines help minimize the risk of conceding. Meanwhile, the attack line was not really effective as all three goals came late in the match, when the opponent was exhausted. This will be a factor that needs to be overcome, especially when facing U23 Yemen - a team with a rich physical foundation and disciplined playing style.
The West Asian representative also has a perfect record after two matches, scoring 3 goals and conceding only 1. U23 Yemen stands out with their ability to press continuously, organize a tight defense and high-speed counter-attacks. Compared to the opponents that U23 Vietnam has met, U23 Yemen is considered to be superior in terms of strength and determination in the dispute.
Under the direction of coach Kim Sang-sik, U23 Vietnam is promoting flexibility in personnel and tactics. rotating the force not only helps the players stay in good shape but also brings many strategic options. Attacking factors such as Viktor Le, Dinh Bac, Quoc Viet or Thanh Nhan are expected to make a difference, while the midfield must maintain control to limit pressure from Yemen.
Playing at Viet Tri Stadium with the support of a large audience, U23 Vietnam has enough basis to aim for a positive result. This is predicted to be a tense, tense match and will likely only be decided by a narrow score.
U23 Vietnam will face U23 Yemen at 7:00 p.m. tonight (September 9) at Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho).
Score prediction: U23 Vietnam 1-0 U23 Yemen
