U23 Vietnam reaches the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup: A story of skill and resilience

Media and fans often refer to the “miracle” worked by coach Kim Sang-sik that propelled U23 Vietnam so far in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, extending their official winning streak to 15 consecutive matches.

Vietnam’s winning streak began at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship in Indonesia in July. At that tournament, coach Kim’s team defeated Laos and Cambodia in the group stage, then overcame the Philippines in the semi-final, before beating host Indonesia 1-0 in the final to claim the title.

The unbeaten run continued through the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September. Taking advantage of home ground, U23 Vietnam won against Bangladesh 2-0, Singapore 1-0, and Yemen 1-0, securing their place in the final tournament.

At the 33rd SEA Games, U22 Vietnam won all four matches, including group stage victories over Laos and Malaysia, a semi-final win against the Philippines, and a final triumph against host U22 Thailand.

In the group stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, U23 Vietnam consecutively defeated Jordan 2-0, Kyrgyzstan 2-1, and Saudi Arabia 1-0. In the quarter-final on the evening of January 16, the team beat UAE 3-2 after extra time to reach the semi-finals for the second time. This marks the fourth time UAE has been stopped at the U23 Asian Cup quarter-finals, continuing their struggle to reach the semi-finals.

From the AFC U23 qualifiers, the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, the 33rd SEA Games, to the ongoing 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, teams led by coach Kim have demonstrated remarkable consistency, blending discipline with a strong fighting spirit.

People talk about coach Kim Sang-sik’s “miracle” or magical touch, but in reality, there is no magic here. Success in sports, especially football, is a well-deserved outcome that reflects the skill and determination of the athletes.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and the U23 Vietnam players have been outstanding in their performance so far at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

Coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized that the victory over U23 UAE clearly demonstrates the growing stature of Vietnamese football: “Today’s match once again showed that the U23 Vietnam team can fully compete at the Asian level. I am very pleased with the players’ performance and truly proud of this team.”

Analyzing the extra time period, coach Kim Sang-sik said that stamina and spirit played a decisive role: “Before extra time, the players were very tired, but I noticed our physical condition was slightly better than the opponents’. Therefore, I instructed the team to keep pressing forward. The players fought with determination and executed the tactical plan very well.”

He also explained the pivotal personnel changes: “I brought Anh Quân on in the second half to strengthen wing defense and limit the opponent’s crosses, and he fulfilled his role excellently. I noticed some UAE players, especially on the wings, were fatigued, so I introduced faster and stronger players to capitalize on the opportunity. That proved effective.”

U23 Vietnam’s success is the result of sacrifice and persistent effort: “We reached the semi-finals today thanks to the sweat, hard work, and dedication of the entire team. In the next match, we will continue to prepare thoroughly to face new challenges and push beyond our limits.”