Vietnam to play hosts Saudi Arabia in 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup
VOV.VN - Vietnam will play hosts Saudi Arabia alongside Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, following a draw held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 2.
According to experts, this is a favourable draw for Vietnam, giving the team a solid opportunity to progress past the group stage.
Saudi Arabia are considered the biggest challenge in the group. They were champions in 2022, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2024 edition after a 0-2 loss to Uzbekistan.
Jordan, who topped their qualifying group, are also seen as a tough opponent, while Kyrgyzstan are making their first-ever appearance at an AFC U23 final tournament and remain an unknown quantity.
The tournament will be held from January 6 to 24, 2026, featuring 16 teams divided into four groups. Teams will play in a round-robin format, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
Based on the draw structure, the Group A winners will face the runners-up of Group B, while the Group A runners-up will likely face Japan, one of the strongest contenders, in the quarterfinals. This puts additional pressure on Vietnam to aim for top spot in the group.
Vietnam qualified for the final tournament with an impressive 3-win sweep in Group C of the qualifiers, beating Bangladesh, Singapore, and Yemen. This marks their sixth consecutive appearance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.
The U23 Vietnam team will regroup in Hanoi on October 4, training at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre for three days, before traveling to the UAE for a training camp.
As head coach Kim Sang-sik is currently leading the senior national team in preparations for the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, interim head coach Dinh Hong Vinh will take charge of the U23 squad during this phase.
In the UAE, Vietnam will play two friendly matches against U23 Qatar on October 9 and 13. These high-quality matches are expected to sharpen the squad ahead of both the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 U23 Asian Cup.
VFF shortlisted in two categories at AFC Awards Riyadh 2025
VOV.VN -The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has been nominated in two categories at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Awards Riyadh 2025, scheduled for October 16 in Saudi Arabia.
