West Asia Newspaper Reacts to U23 Vietnam Being Drawn with Saudi Arabia

Okaz extends many compliments to U23 Vietnam when the red-clad squad meets U23 Saudi Arabia in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

At the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals, U23 Vietnam is placed in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia (the host), Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan. Among these, the host nation is considered the toughest opponent for coach Kim Sang Sik’s team.

Conversely, the Saudi Arabian media also express caution regarding U23 Vietnam in this group. Okaz comments: "Vietnam is one of Asia’s most outstanding emerging teams in recent years, having achieved remarkable results at youth level."

U23 Vietnam and U23 Saudi Arabia are familiar rivals, having faced each other five times previously. The hosts hold the upper hand with four wins, while U23 Vietnam has yet to secure a victory. In their most recent meeting at the 2022 AFC U23 Championship quarterfinals, the red-shirted team lost 0-2 to Saudi Arabia.

Regarding the other two opponents, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan, Okaz also shows a certain level of respect: "U23 Jordan brings considerable experience to this tournament and often demonstrates strong competitiveness. Meanwhile, U23 Kyrgyzstan could cause surprises, driven by their ambition to prove themselves against major rivals and to continue developing football domestically."

According to the rules, the top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. In this group, coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad has a realistic chance of advancing to the last eight. However, to progress further, U23 Vietnam must strive to top the group to avoid facing the winner of Group B in the quarterfinals—most likely U23 Japan.

To prepare for upcoming important tournaments, U23 Vietnam will conduct a high-quality training camp in the UAE during October and participate in an international friendly tournament in November.

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