AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026: Fans eagerly await U23 Vietnam to make history

Previously, in 2018 at Changzhou (China), the team impressively passed the semifinals to reach the final, creating a historic milestone. This achievement once again confirms U23 Vietnam’s steady progress on the Asian stage, raising hopes for a continued remarkable journey ahead.

Regarding this result, journalist Nguyen Viet Anh (VOV2 Channel - Voice of Vietnam), who has over 20 years of experience in sports and regularly follows and comments on Vietnamese football matches, commented: If the current spirit and fighting spirit are maintained, we can fully believe in achieving a miracle. Under Coach Kim Sang Sik, we have maintained an unbeaten streak since the qualifiers and the recent victory over U23 UAE was our 15th consecutive win in official tournaments.

Since the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in Phu Tho (September 2025), U23 Vietnam consecutively defeated U23 Bangladesh 2-0, U23 Singapore 1-0, and U23 Yemen 1-0 to qualify for the finals, where Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team continues to write an extraordinary story with four outstanding wins. These include victories over U23 Jordan 2-0, U23 Kyrgyzstan 2-1, and U23 Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the group stage. In the quarterfinals, U23 Vietnam overcame U23 UAE 3-2 in a thrilling match on the night of January 16, where our players performed brilliantly, with resilience and consistently held the lead.

“U23 Vietnam’s style under Coach Kim Sang Sik brings reassurance, as we have built a balanced team that plays solidly and seizes scoring opportunities well. Against strong Asian teams with better physique and technique, the U23 Vietnam team still creates an even, sometimes dominant, playing field,” added journalist Nguyen Viet Anh.

According to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 bracket, U23 Vietnam will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between U23 China and U23 Uzbekistan, scheduled for 18:30 on January 17.

Theoretically, U23 Uzbekistan is rated higher than China. However, surprises can happen as U23 China is not a weak team. If facing U23 China, it will be a highly anticipated match since both teams have made unexpected progress in the tournament.

If matched against U23 Uzbekistan, it will recall the 2018 AFC U23 Asian Cup final, where U23 Vietnam lost 0-1 after 120 minutes and sadly watched their opponent lift the trophy. At the 2024 U23 Asian Cup, U23 Vietnam also suffered a 0-3 defeat to U23 Uzbekistan in the group stage.

Commenting on U23 Vietnam’s semifinal opponent, Mr. Do Trong Nghia (Tu Liem, Hanoi) said: “Based on what has been shown, facing either U23 China or U23 Uzbekistan is not a problem for U23 Vietnam. I believe Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad has the courage and confidence to win against any opponent.”

Confident in U23 Vietnam’s victory, Mr. Pham Minh Thang (Co Nhue, Hanoi) shared: "Although this is a challenging goal, with the current squad and the players’ determined fighting spirit, I believe we will win the upcoming semifinal match to reach the final and once again make history on the continental stage.