Hanoi, April 16, 2025 – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has announced that the 2025 AFF U23 Championship will take place from July 15 to 31 in Indonesia, setting the stage for Vietnam U23 to defend their regional dominance. As the tournament’s most successful team, Vietnam aims for a third consecutive title, building on triumphs in 2022 and 2023.
Vietnam U23’s 2022 victory came amid Covid-19 challenges, with a gritty 1-0 win over hosts Thailand in Rayong, sealed by Nguyen Manh Dung’s header. In 2023, they reaffirmed their supremacy, edging Indonesia 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a tense final in Chonburi. These successes, driven by talents from academies like The Cong Viettel and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, have cemented Vietnam’s status as the team to beat.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is preparing meticulously for the AFF U23 Championship, the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, and SEA Games 33 in Thailand. Since 2024, coach Kim Sang Sik has overseen multiple U23 training camps, aligning with FIFA Days alongside the senior team. The squad also competed in two high-caliber international friendlies—the U22 CFA Team China tournaments in 2024 and 2025—facing strong sides like China, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia, boosting experience for players like Hanoi Police FC’s Nguyen Quang Hai.
Kim, who led Vietnam’s senior team to the 2024 ASEAN Cup title, has fast-tracked promising youngsters, integrating them into senior setups. Standouts like Phu Dong Ninh Binh’s Nguyen Quoc Viet, who scored in the ASEAN Cup, highlight the U23s’ depth. This youth-focused strategy, blending veterans and prospects, mirrors Song Lam Nghe An’s cohesive rebuild in the V.League.
The VFF’s proactive approach—scouting, camps, and global exposure—positions Vietnam U23 to chase history in Indonesia. The 2025 tournament, hosted across Jakarta and Surabaya, will feature 12 AFF nations, with Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia eager to dethrone Vietnam. A third title would solidify their regional hegemony and fuel ambitions for an AFC U23 Asian Cup breakthrough, last reached in 2018 under Park Hang Seo. Vietnam’s campaign kicks off July 15, with the final set for July 31 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Leave a Reply