AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026: An Anticipated Tactical Battle Between Two South Korean Coaches

According to TTXVN reporters in Seoul, South Korean media are paying special attention to the third-place playoff scheduled at 10 PM on January 23 (Vietnam time), where U23 Vietnam will face U23 South Korea in a highly dramatic encounter between two coaches of the same nationality.

This match not only decides the bronze medal but also represents an intriguing “mind game” between U23 Vietnam’s Kim Sang Sik and U23 South Korea’s Lee Min Sung — two strategists with many years of experience in the K-League who deeply understand each other’s football philosophy.

U23 Vietnam missed the final after their loss to U23 China. The red-shirted team showed resilience in the first half, but the turning point came in the second half when they conceded three consecutive goals and played with a man down following a red card to Phạm Lý Đức. Nevertheless, their performance in the tournament demonstrated significant progress in tactical organization and competitive spirit.

On the other hand, U23 South Korea suffered a shock defeat to their long-time rivals Japan with a 0-1 scoreline. Notably, Japan’s squad mainly consisted of U21 players, two years younger than South Korea’s U23 team, making the loss even more bitter and drawing heavy criticism from domestic fans.

After the defeat to U23 China, coach Kim Sang Sik expressed his regret but emphasized determination for the final match: “The tournament is not over yet. I will prepare thoroughly to win against South Korea in the third-place match and demonstrate the growth of Vietnamese football on the continental stage.”

From the South Korean side, coach Lee Min Sung openly pointed out his team’s weakness: “We were too cautious in the first half. The problem wasn’t the opposing goalkeeper, but our finishing was insufficient. Football is a game where scoring goals is essential to winning, and we need to improve that in the upcoming match.”

Regarding their head-to-head record, U23 South Korea clearly holds the advantage, having never lost to U23 Vietnam, with 6 wins and 3 draws. In their most recent meeting at the Panda Cup friendly in November 2025, South Korea also secured a narrow 1-0 victory.

However, under coach Kim Sang Sik, U23 Vietnam has shown a very different side this tournament, achieving four consecutive wins before falling in the semifinals. Given the pressure and criticism faced by U23 South Korea for their ineffective style, the Vietnamese team has every reason to hope for an upset, aiming to defeat their Korean rivals at the youth level for the first time.

Therefore, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 third-place match is expected to be a fiercely contested, tactically rich duel where the two Korean coaches will directly test each other’s leadership and strategic imprint on the continental pitch.