Hanoi, 25 December 2025 – With the status of a rising youth powerhouse in West Asia and the advantage of playing at home, U23 Saudi Arabia are entering their campaign at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 with great confidence.
What the team have shown recently, especially their triumph at the Arab U23 Championship (Gulf Cup) 2025, confirms that they are not only the most formidable opponent in their group – which includes U22 Vietnam – but also one of the leading contenders for the title.
As hosts of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, Saudi Arabia are aiming to maximize home advantage in an effort to recreate their championship success from 2022. At the most recent edition in 2024, they failed to defend their crown after losing to Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals in Qatar, a setback that also denied them a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics. That disappointment has since become a strong motivation, prompting Saudi Arabian youth football to renew its ambitions and prepare more thoroughly for a tournament on home soil.
That preparation was clearly reflected in their convincing victory at the 2025 Gulf Cup. In the final held at Stadium 974 in Qatar, U23 Saudi Arabia defeated U23 Iraq 2-0 to lift the trophy in emphatic fashion. Goals from Abdulaziz Aliewa and Rakan Al Ghamdi not only secured Saudi Arabia’s fifth title in the competition, but also underlined their superiority over regional rivals.
Saudi Arabia’s journey to the Gulf Cup title was marked by consistency and composure. The West Asian side went unbeaten throughout the tournament, advanced smoothly from the group stage, eliminated U23 UAE in the semi-finals, and then delivered a commanding performance in the final. This championship is widely seen as the perfect warm-up, sending a strong message to rivals ahead of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 that Saudi Arabia are fully prepared for a long and demanding campaign.
In terms of pedigree, Saudi Arabia are among the most decorated teams at U23 Asian Cup level. They have qualified for the finals six times, won the championship in 2022, and finished runners-up in 2013 and 2020. Even at the most recent tournament, despite exiting in the quarter-finals, they once again demonstrated their ability to go deep. As hosts in 2026, expectations for an even stronger run are naturally higher.
According to the group-stage schedule, U23 Saudi Arabia will face Kyrgyzstan on January 6, 2026, Jordan on January 9, and U22 Vietnam on January 12. Being drawn in the same group as the host nation presents a major challenge for head coach Kim Sang-sik’s side, as Saudi Arabia boast not only superior squad depth but also a clear psychological edge when playing in front of home supporters.
Under the guidance of head coach Luigi Di Biagio, a former Italian international, U23 Saudi Arabia have followed a structured and long-term preparation plan. As hosts, they were granted direct entry to the finals and did not take part in the qualification round last September, allowing them to focus on intensive training camps instead. During this period, the “young Green Falcons” travelled to Russia for training and played a high-quality friendly against U23 South Korea in October, gaining valuable international experience.
The squad itself is highly regarded, featuring several players who impressed during Saudi Arabia’s run to the final of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025. Tall goalkeeper Hamed Youssef, defender Mohammed Barnawi, and striker Talal Haji are all expected to play key roles. In addition, winger Abdulaziz Aliewa, who has been performing strongly for Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League, is seen as a potential game-changer thanks to his pace and direct attacking threat.
With the 2025 Gulf Cup title in hand, a well-balanced squad, and meticulous preparation, U23 Saudi Arabia are aiming to follow Japan’s example by becoming a two-time champion of the AFC U23 Asian Cup. For U22 Vietnam, Saudi Arabia are clearly the toughest opponent in the group and a crucial benchmark for head coach Kim Sang-sik’s ambitions to elevate his team to a higher level on the continental stage at the tournament in early 2026.
Mai Huong
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