Vietnam U23’s main rival scored 6 goals against South Korea

Saudi Arabia U23, sharing a group with Vietnam U23, recently secured their second friendly victory over South Korea U23, showing impressive power before the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals.

Saudi Arabia U23 – Vietnam U23’s opponent in Group A of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals – is showing outstanding form by winning both friendly matches against South Korea U23. Notably, their squad includes many players currently competing in Europe.

According to South Korean media, in the second friendly held on October 14 in West Asia, Saudi Arabia U23 defeated South Korea U23 2-0. Earlier, on October 10, the West Asian team had a dominant 4-0 victory. Across the two matches, the Korean side conceded a total of 6 goals without scoring any, leaving South Korean fans deeply disappointed.

Importantly, South Korea U23 participated in this training camp with almost their strongest squad. Coach Lee Min Sung called up all players currently playing in Europe such as Yang MinYeok (Portsmouth), Lee Hyun Joo (Arouca), Kim Min Soo (Andorra), Kim Yong Hak (Portimonense), along with many top K-League players. Midfielder Bae Jun Ho (Stoke City) was also included but had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury during training.

These two consecutive wins have firmly established Saudi Arabia U23 as a strong contender for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship title. The West Asian team is not only the reigning 2022 U23 Asian champion but also the host of the upcoming tournament, giving them significant advantages in terms of venue, climate, and morale.

In the finals, Saudi Arabia U23 is grouped with Vietnam U23, Jordan U23, and Kyrgyzstan U23. Given their current form, the West Asian team is rated the strongest in the group. Meanwhile, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad will need to exert great effort to compete for one of the two quarterfinal spots.

The two emphatic wins over South Korea not only boost Saudi Arabia U23’s confidence but also send an early warning to other group rivals, including Vietnam U23, about the true strength of the tournament hosts next year.