U23 Vietnam sets a series of historic milestones

Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team not only secured a spot in the quarterfinals but also achieved something no other Southeast Asian youth team has ever done: winning all three group stage matches and topping the group.

With a perfect 9 points from victories over U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan, and the host U23 Saudi Arabia, U23 Vietnam has, for the first time, finished the U23 Asian Championship group stage in first place. This is also the first time in the team's history at this tournament that the red-shirted squad has won all three group matches, surpassing previous milestones considered successful.

Notably, the win against U23 Saudi Arabia holds special significance. It not only helped U23 Vietnam maintain their top spot in the group but also marked the first time the Vietnamese youth team defeated the host nation at a U23 Asian Championship final tournament, simultaneously eliminating the West Asian opponent directly in the group stage.

Compared to previous participations, U23 Vietnam’s progress is very clear. In 2018, the team earned 4 points and reached the final. In 2020, U23 Vietnam was eliminated with 2 points. In 2022, they got 5 points and reached the quarterfinals. By 2024, the team collected 6 points but finished second in the group. At the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad raised that benchmark to a new height with a perfect 9 points.

Not only making an impact at the continental level, U23 Vietnam has also made history for Southeast Asian football. This is the first team from the region to win all group stage matches in the history of the U23 Asian Championship. Previously, the best record by Southeast Asian representatives was 6 points, set by U23 Indonesia in the 2024 tournament.

Overall, Vietnamese youth football is currently the best-performing Southeast Asian representative in the U23 Asian Championship, with a total number of wins exceeding all other teams from the region combined. This highlights the stability and depth of development in Vietnamese youth football over the past decade.

The historic milestones at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship are not just statistics but also evidence of comprehensive growth in resilience, tactics, and competitive mindset. With the current form and the strong influence of Coach Kim Sang Sik, U23 Vietnam is poised to advance even further and possibly surpass their remarkable achievement as runners-up in the 2018 tournament.