In a decision announced on December 25, VFF confirmed that Vietnam will use a U21 squad, rather than the usual U23 team supplemented by three over-age players as permitted by ASIAD regulations, for the 20th Asian Games to be held in Japan in 2026.

According to the VFF assessment, the move reflects a cautious but strategic approach, aimed at preserving the strongest U23 players for key future targets, including the 2027 SEA Games, the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup and Vietnam’s ambition of qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time. Rather than chasing short-term results, VFF is prioritising the development of a solid foundation for the next generation of players.

Under the plan, the U21 squad for ASIAD 2026 will be assembled flexibly. Eligible U21 players from the current U23 pool may be included, alongside promising talents from the U19 and U20 teams. This approach is intended to maintain competitiveness while providing younger players with valuable international experience.

The ASIAD 20 squad will consist of players born on or after January 1, 2005. It is therefore viewed as an important test run ahead of the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia and the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, which also serves as the Olympic qualifying pathway.

ASIAD 20 is set to take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in the Japanese cities of Aichi and Nagoya, coinciding with the FIFA Days from September 21 to October 6.

During this period, the senior national team of Vietnam are scheduled to play important international friendlies in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup in January 2027. This makes the use of a younger squad at the ASIAD 20 a practical way to ease the pressure on the senior team's personnel.

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