Remarkable journey
U23 Vietnam passed the group stage with positive results when they won all 3 matches, including championship contenders such as U23 Jordan, U23 Saudi Arabia. After that, coach Kim Sang-sik's team continued to defeat U23 UAE in the quarterfinals with a score of 3-2. This is a match that clearly shows the bravery and progress of the Vietnamese youth team in organizing the playing style, controlling the tempo as well as exploiting decisive moments. The achievement of entering the group of 4 strongest teams in the continent is a notable milestone, especially in the context that the squad does not have many experienced players in continental tournaments.
Assessing this journey, commentator Quang Huy commented: "The journey in the finals is very proud. U23 Vietnam has built a style of play that mobilizes the strength of attacking players, maximizing the use of all the people we have. Through each match, the team always shows a very admirable ability to improvise and cope with opponents, not just simply a bottom-up style of play".
Reality shows that U23 Vietnam at this year's tournament is no longer limited in its approach to matches that favors crowd defense. When conditions permit, the team is ready to deploy a higher formation, organize pressing at a certain level and accelerate the pace of state transition. This is a difference compared to many previous tournaments, where Vietnamese football often prioritizes keeping the home field safe.
However, the semi-final match against U23 China also showed the limitations that U23 Vietnam needs to frankly acknowledge. The early loss of a key player due to injury, along with psychological pressure after a series of tense matches, made it difficult for the team to maintain the balance between defense and attack. The opponent took advantage of decisive moments well, while U23 Vietnam did not have enough squad depth to turn the situation around. This defeat accurately reflects the current strength, while also posing the requirement to improve fitness, bravery and top-level playing experience.
Towards the bronze medal battle
After the semi-finals, U23 Vietnam still has a bronze medal match before closing the tournament. This is not only a ranking competition, but also an opportunity for young players to show their fighting attitude and spirit of overcoming difficulties after the defeat.
The fact that both U23 Vietnam and U23 Korea lost in the semi-finals created a challenging 3rd place match. The opponent possesses a superior physical foundation and experience, while U23 Vietnam has just experienced a defeat with a great emotional impact.
U23 Korea and U23 Vietnam both lost in the semi-finals, but there is still one more match in the tournament. U23 Vietnam has shown good spirit, the important thing at this time is that the players must re-prepare their fitness and keep their heads light," commentator Quang Huy shared.
According to commentator Quang Huy, the defeat to U23 China may leave complex emotions for the players. In that context, the bronze medal match is more about how U23 Vietnam closed the tournament than the pure result.
The defeat to U23 China will certainly have a big impact on the psychology. But football is like that, players need to forget. Let's go to the field with clear legs and a light head. If playing against South Korea and showing paleness, all the efforts in the previous four or four matches will leave an unsightly image. Putting everything aside, we still have one match left. Let's play so that the opponent respects us," commentator Quang Huy shared.
From a long-term development perspective, this is the time for young players to accumulate more international competition experiences, learn how to control emotions and bear pressure in big matches.
Regardless of the result of the third-place match, the 2026 AFC U23 Championship still brings many important lessons to U23 Vietnam. The team has shown progress in tactical thinking, fighting spirit and adaptability to strong opponents. This is a necessary foundation for Vietnamese youth football to continue to improve, aiming for higher goals in the near future.
