At the 2026 finals, Vietnam U23’s group-stage opener against Jordan U23 will also serve as the tournament’s curtain-raiser. The match is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time on January 6, 2026, requiring careful preparation from Kim Sang Sik and his players to adapt to local weather conditions.

On its official website, the Asian Football Confederation highlighted Vietnam U23’s impressive track record, including a runners-up finish in 2018, a quarter-final appearance in 2024, and a sixth consecutive qualification for the finals. Jordan U23 are also regarded as a formidable opponent, having finished third in the 2013 edition.

Vietnam U23 are currently in Qatar for a training camp as part of their build-up to the 2026 finals. According to the schedule, the team will play a friendly match later this evening (December 30) against Syria U23 to assess squad depth and readiness.

For this training camp, Kim Sang Sik has largely retained a core group of players who recently won gold at the SEA Games 33. The continuity in personnel is expected to help maintain tactical cohesion, particularly with limited preparation time ahead of the continental tournament.

Vietnam U23 face a demanding challenge in a tough group alongside Saudi Arabia U23, Jordan U23 and Kyrgyzstan U23, with competition for the knockout spots expected to be intense.

Vietnam U23 depart for Qatar training camp ahead of AFC U23 finals

VOV.VN - Vietnam U23 departed for Qatar on December 26 to begin a training camp in preparation for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals.