West Asia's representative is putting pressure on U23 Vietnam

U23 Vietnam has reason to worry given that both Saudi Arabia and Jordan, their rivals in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship group stage, are showing strong form.

After U23 Saudi Arabia made a statement with a 4-0 victory over U23 South Korea, U23 Jordan—another competitor of U23 Vietnam in the 2026 finals—also secured a favorable result in their latest friendly match.

At Emirates Club Stadium (UAE), U23 Jordan defeated the host U23 UAE 2-0 on October 10. Under the guidance of coach Omar Najhi, the West Asian team played proactively with intense pressing from the start, limiting U23 UAE to almost no dangerous chances in the first half.

The opening goal came late in the first half when Moamen Al-Sakit capitalized on a precise pass from Ahmed Al-Maghribi to finish past the opposing goalkeeper. In the second half, U23 Jordan continued experimenting with their lineup and maintained dominant attacking play. Substitute Anas Al-Khub sealed the victory in the 83rd minute assisted by Abdullah Al-Munais.

According to Jordanian media, this result indicates that coach Omar Najhi’s squad is maintaining stable form while refining key personnel options ahead of the continental tournament. Along with their win over U23 UAE, U23 Jordan has gained significant confidence in preparing for the “group of death” at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Meanwhile, U23 Saudi Arabia—the host of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship—also recently dominated U23 South Korea 4-0 in a friendly on October 10 at Al-Ahsa, affirming their superior strength and status as top contenders for the title. Historically, this team won the 2022 AFC U23 Championship, and with home advantage, they aim to replicate that success in 2026.

Thus, both U23 Jordan and U23 Saudi Arabia—U23 Vietnam’s opponents in Group A—are currently in excellent form, motivated, and have stable squads. This means coach Kim Sang Sik’s team will face a tough challenge if they want to advance beyond the group stage. According to the tournament format, only the top two teams from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, so U23 Vietnam must prepare thoroughly both tactically and physically to create an upset in next year’s Asian competition.