U23 Vietnam reaps the rewards of youth training

U23 Vietnam’s elimination of the host nation U23 Saudi Arabia, considered a top favorite from the group stage, and then defeating another West Asian representative, U23 UAE, is not a miracle.

This success is the culmination of a long-term investment in youth football, where traditional academies have quietly laid a solid foundation for the current generation.

After many years, fans can clearly see the “training map” of Vietnamese football reflected in the U23 Vietnam squad, diverse yet unified under the guidance of a skilled coach.

From HAGL with goalkeeper Trung Kien securing the goal, CAHN contributing the speedy Dinh Bac and Minh Phuc, to Thanh Hoa providing the resilient Thai Son, Van Thuan, and Ngoc My.

PVF CAND brings Hiểu Minh, Xuan Bac, Thanh Nhan, Anh Quan, Le Phat with modern fitness and tactical foundations, while The Cong Viettel offers disciplined players like Van Khang and Cong Phuong; Nutifood JMG Academy contributes technically gifted players such as Nhat Minh, Ly Duc, Quoc Cuong, and Quoc Viet…

All these form a colorful collective but share the same voice for the national colors on the field. Each has been honed through the V-League, youth national teams, and many are even national team members.

Clubs agreeing to suspend the V-League to support the youth team is a significant sacrifice amid fierce competition for results. This sacrifice has borne fruit.

The U23 Vietnam team is experienced, tough, and full of character, not inexperienced when stepping onto the continental stage. Under heavy pressure from opponents, they did not rely on luck. The players passed and connected smoothly, escaping pressing confidently based on technical skills and mutual understanding down to every run.

Compared to the 2018 U23 generation led by Quang Hai, whose success largely relied on spirit and a few standout stars, the current generation is organized, confident, and plays with cohesive tactics.

U23 Vietnam controls the game with precise strategy and superior efficiency. Eliminating a team that had reached the AFC U23 Championship final three times on their home ground is the clearest proof of this maturity.

The role of Coach Kim Sang Sik cannot be overlooked in this success. He understands Vietnamese culture and people well and adapts quickly to the domestic football environment. He does not impose but maximizes the existing potential of the players.

The record of 15 consecutive wins, scoring 29 goals and conceding only 8 in recent official tournaments is unprecedented, reflecting true capability rather than luck.

A representative image of the current U23 generation is Dinh Bac, who can be seen as a miniature symbol of this success. From his goal against U23 Jordan, his mark against U23 Kyrgyzstan, to moments of defeating U23 Saudi Arabia and U23 UAE, the striker born in 2004 shows that Vietnamese football possesses a modern "number 9," ready to carry the future, even starting from the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

Looking more broadly, the achievement at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship is not just progress in a tournament but a turning point for status. Today's U23 Vietnam wins through skill, resilience, and depth of training. This measures progress and opens hope that if the right path continues, Vietnamese football can dream even bigger.