The ‘Golden Star Warriors’ continue to write a new chapter in the history of Vietnamese football.

The U23 Vietnamese players are making history for Vietnamese football in Saudi Arabia, building on the legacy their predecessors created in Changzhou in 2018.

After a thrilling 3-2 victory over U23 UAE, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) described Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team as having overcome a tremendous challenge. The AFC was particularly impressed by Vietnam’s relentless fighting spirit, especially after being equalized twice but still maintaining control and confidence in their style of play.

Facing a U23 UAE team considered superior in terms of physique, stamina, and speed, U23 Vietnam started confidently with a technical playing style. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s players did not retreat into defense or show hesitation. The U23 Vietnamese players were ready to control the ball and launch diverse, skillful attacks in tight spaces, combined with surprising long and aerial passes.

The Vietnamese players’ proactive ball handling, quick coordination, and willingness to play in confined areas caused the U23 UAE defense to be confused at several moments.

In this match, striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc once again made a significant impact in this tournament. The forward from Hanoi’s Cồn An club contributed directly to two of U23 Vietnam’s goals (one assist and one goal). Beyond scoring and assisting, Đình Bắc consistently created chances for his teammates. Every time he had the ball, the UAE defense was put on high alert.

Scoring consecutively against Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE shows that the 2004-born striker is truly becoming a "nightmare" for West Asian teams at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Đình Bắc is emerging as a symbol of the new generation of Vietnamese forwards: confident, strong, fearless in challenges, and ready to face top Asian defenders head-on.

The 3-2 victory over U23 UAE holds special historical significance. Previously, U23 Vietnam had faced UAE eight times without a single win, only draws and losses. But in Jeddah, the "Golden Star Warriors" broke that streak with a brave and determined performance.

This win also extended U23 Vietnam’s official winning streak to 15 consecutive matches — a record in the history of Vietnamese youth football. This streak began at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, continued through the AFC U23 qualifiers, SEA Games 33, and now the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Coach Kim Sang-sik has built a team that is not only technically consistent but also rich in resilience and hunger for victory.

In its summary on the official website, the AFC praised U23 Vietnam’s ability to handle pressure and manage the game during crucial moments, especially when twice being equalized but still maintaining control to finish the match in extra time. According to the AFC’s analysis, overcoming a team with strong fitness, experience, and many quality players like U23 UAE clearly demonstrates the Southeast Asian team’s improved competitive spirit.

Reaching the top four of the tournament is seen as a significant milestone, marking the first time since 2018 that U23 Vietnam has returned to the continental semifinals. The AFC also noted that this result reaffirms U23 Vietnam’s status among Asia’s highly competitive youth teams and continues to keep alive their chances of advancing further in the tournament.

Ahead lies a challenging semifinal for U23 Vietnam. On the evening of January 17, U23 Vietnam will learn their semifinal opponent from the match between U23 Uzbekistan and U23 China. Regardless of the opponent, the journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship has proven one thing: U23 Vietnam is no longer a temporary phenomenon but is gradually becoming a genuine force in Asian youth football.

It has been an emotional journey as U23 Vietnam consecutively defeated West Asian giants Saudi Arabia and then UAE. These impressive achievements reflect a fundamental transformation. The playing style of U23 Vietnamese players is increasingly composed, combined with excellent physical conditioning, delighting their fans.

Vietnamese football now wins not only through skill or luck but through physical strength. The victory over UAE is the clearest proof of this change. Throughout 120 intense minutes, there was no sign of fatigue or panic.

On the contrary, towards the end, the red-shirted players’ movements became even more fluid, while their opponent, proud of their superior physical genes, was gasping for breath. In the two matches against Saudi Arabia and UAE this tournament, viewers felt as if the U23 Vietnamese players were running on "steel lungs."

Watching U23 Vietnam tirelessly run to defeat West Asian "giants" like Saudi Arabia and UAE, Vietnamese football fans have every reason to believe that a proud new chapter for their national football has truly begun.

The victory over U23 UAE not only secured U23 Vietnam a place among the top four teams in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship but also clearly confirmed the rising status of Vietnamese youth football on the continental map.