In history, U23 Vietnam has only had one absentee in the first U23 Asian Cup in 2013. In the following 5 tournaments, the team won the right to participate, including 3 times as group winners.
In the 2024 qualifiers, coach Troussier and his team at that time topped the group with U23 Singapore, U23 Yemen and U23 Guam. Previously, in the 2022 qualifiers, the team also overcame U23 Myanmar and U23 Taiwan (China) to win tickets to continue. In particular, the 2020 qualifiers left a strong impression when U23 Vietnam won all 3 matches, including a 4-0 victory over Thailand.
In 2016 and 2018, U23 Vietnam fell into a group with very strong teams like Japan and Korea, but still won tickets thanks to being in the second group with the best results. This series of stable achievements affirms the bravery and increasingly solid position of Vietnamese youth football in the Asian arena.
This time, U23 Vietnam is led by coach Kim Sang-sik. The Korean coach and the coaching staff have developed a long-term focus plan, helping players accumulate experience, improve their physical strength and enhance their coordination skills. Many familiar faces such as: Van Khang, Dinh Bac, Thai Son, Trung Kien... have tried their hand at the national team, so they promise to bring maturity in their fighting spirit.
Not only stopping at the professional factor, U23 Vietnam also has the home field advantage in Viet Tri (Phu Tho). The enthusiastic support of the audience will be an important source of motivation, adding the spirit for the players to confidently enter each match. The organizing committee has also completed preparations, from facilities, security to direct ticket sales, ensuring the best conditions for the participating teams. In a technical meeting before the tournament, the AFC confirmed that the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers will not apply VAR technology. U23 Vietnam will start in traditional red in the opening match against U23 Bangladesh, a meaningful detail that many fans expect to bring luck.
According to the draw results, U23 Vietnam is in Group C with U23 Singapore, U23 Yemen and U23 Bangladesh. Among them, U23 Bangladesh aims to participate in the final round for the first time, while adding many naturalized players from England, Italy, and the US. Yemen also brought a strong force with 3 highly rated strikers. However, with proper preparation and in-depth forces, U23 Vietnam is still considered superior. The goal of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team is to win the top spot in the group to get a direct ticket to the finals in Saudi Arabia. Many players affirmed their high determination before the tournament. Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac said that the whole team had prepared carefully and set the highest goal right from the opening match.
With proven bravery and encouragement from the stands of Viet Tri Stadium, U23 Vietnam has enough basis to believe that for the 6th consecutive time participating in the U23 Asian finals. This is not only a professional goal but also an important stepping stone for Vietnamese youth football to continue to affirm its position in the continental arena. In the opening match on September 3, U23 Vietnam will have a match against U23 Bangladesh at 7:00 p.m.
