The reigning Asian champion is making a bold move, taking an age risk when facing U23 Vietnam.

U23 Uzbekistan has called up exclusively 2005-born players to compete against U23 Vietnam in the Panda Cup.

On November 8, U23 Uzbekistan announced their squad for the Panda Cup in China. Compared to the team that played in the CFA Team China friendly in March, aside from head coach Haidarov remaining, the players are no longer those born in 2003 but all belong to the 2005 age group, eligible for the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

This is understandable since Uzbekistan made history by winning the 2024 AFC U23 Championship and securing a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympic men’s football event, while the senior Uzbekistan national team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup next year.

Now, U23 Uzbekistan is preparing for the 2028 Olympics. Replacing the 2003-born squad with the 2005 age group for a friendly tournament is a crucial step in their Olympic preparation. Although composed solely of 2005-born players, they represent the best talents Uzbekistan has at this age level.

U23 Uzbekistan is not the only team fielding U20 players in this tournament. China’s U23 head coach Antonio has called up a total of 30 players. More than half (16 players) of those announced for this training camp are from the 2005 age group, belonging to the U20 team, instead of selecting many players born in 2003 and 2004.

China’s U23 team is also planning long-term, as players born in 2005 will be the ideal age to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Early inclusion of many players from this age group into the national U23 team allows them to gain more international match experience and accumulate exposure in major tournaments, effectively nurturing talent for the future Olympic squad.

Meanwhile, U23 Vietnam is still using their strongest lineup for the four-team friendly tournament against Uzbekistan, South Korea, and host China. These players were part of the 2025 Southeast Asia U23 Championship-winning squad and also qualified through the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. This tournament serves as preparation for U23 Vietnam’s important mission one month later at the 33rd SEA Games.

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