Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team entered the tournament in Saudi Arabia with a new position, grouped by the AFC with powerhouses like Japan and South Korea.
U23 Vietnam entered the 2026 U23 Asian Finals in Saudi Arabia with a completely different mindset. No longer an unknown or “dark horse” of the tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team are currently identified by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as one of the strongest candidates for the continental championship.
Affirming a new position on the Asian youth football map
AFC’s homepage (the-AFC.com) gave positive comments to the Southeast Asian representative, and ranked U23 Vietnam in the group of top teams, on par with powers such as Japan, South Korea and host Saudi Arabia. This recognition is based on a series of impressive achievements and stability throughout recent tournaments.
Notably, AFC also showed its favor through social media platforms by posting the team’s training video with a Vietnamese message: “U23 Vietnam and the final round of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship: no joke!”. This shows that the influence and attraction of Vietnamese football has reached a new threshold in the eyes of international experts.
Talking numbers and the luggage of champions
The basis for AFC’s appreciation lies in the sustainable development of Vietnamese youth football. In 2025, the team won all major titles in the region, including the U23 Southeast Asia championship and the 33rd SEA Games Gold Medal.
Regarding the history of confrontation in the continental arena, U23 Vietnam possesses extremely impressive parameters:
6 times in a row: Participate in the final round (from 2016 to 2026).
2018 runner-up: The Changzhou miracle is still a historical milestone.
Quarterfinals 2022 and 2024: Confirms the ability to maintain stable strength.
Challenge on the opening day against U23 Jordan
The highlight of the group will be the opening match taking place at King Abdullah Sports City Hall in Jeddah at 6:30 p.m. on January 6 (Vietnam time). The opponent of coach Kim Sang Sik and his team is U23 Jordan – the team that ranked 3rd in 2013.
U23 Vietnam needs to improve their attack for the U23 Asia Finals.
In the past, U23 Vietnam met U23 Jordan twice at this playground with a 1-3 loss (2016) and a 0-0 draw (2020). However, with a squad that includes many promising players like Khuat Van Khang, the current generation is expected to change history. To prepare for this campaign, the team had an important training trip in Qatar and a practice friendly match with U23 Syria on December 30.
The 2026 Asian U23 Finals is not only a race for the throne but also a launching pad for future stars. With careful preparation and forged bravery, U23 Vietnam is facing a great opportunity to once again create an earthquake in Saudi Arabia.