Hanoi, 9 January, 2026 – In theory, tournament debutants U23 Kyrgyzstan are not rated as highly as U23 Jordan. However, football does not work by “transitive logic,” and at a youth tournament like the AFC U23 Asian Cup—where surprises are always possible—Khuat Van Khang and his teammates must keep their feet firmly on the ground if they want to achieve the immediate goal of progressing from the group stage.
Before the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals kicked off, head coach Kim Sang-sik shared that he was very proud of his players for “not resting on their laurels.” Despite sweeping all Southeast Asian titles in 2025, the U23 Vietnam players have continued to refresh themselves, maintaining maximum focus in every training session and every minute on the pitch.
The convincing 2–0 victory over U23 Jordan in the opening match was the clearest snapshot of the team’s composure and emotional balance. As a result, Vietnamese fans are placing renewed hopes on Kim Sang-sik’s side to deliver another strong performance against U23 Kyrgyzstan.
As midfielder Nguyen Thai Son put it, U23 Vietnam have remained clear-headed and avoided complacency after the win over Jordan. “That victory is our motivation to try even harder in the next match. We will stay fully focused, aim to play well, and seek positive results in the matches ahead,” he said cautiously, while also showing respect for the upcoming opponent.
Based on developments in Group A, the chances of Khuat Van Khang and his teammates sealing early qualification from the group are very promising. In terms of experience, U23 Kyrgyzstan—making their first-ever appearance at the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals—are considered the weakest side in the group compared to U23 Vietnam, who are now regular participants on the continental stage. Nearly half of Kim Sang-sik’s squad featured at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup, while Kyrgyzstan will be without their “conductor” Arsen Sharshenbekov due to suspension after a red card in the previous match. Coupled with Vietnam’s rising momentum, the Southeast Asian side are clearly rated higher than their Central Asian opponents.
That said, U23 Kyrgyzstan cannot be taken lightly. Their resilience—shown by narrowly losing to hosts Saudi Arabia despite playing with ten men—reflects a strong fighting spirit. Crucially, Kyrgyzstan are now backed into a corner and must approach their second Group A match with a “do-or-die” mentality. Teams with nothing to lose can be especially dangerous, particularly when employing a defensive counter-attacking style.
For that reason, the mindset of being the “favorites” could itself become an obstacle for U23 Vietnam. A momentary lapse in concentration or patience could see Kim Sang-sik’s men fall into the opponent’s tactical trap.
At this pivotal stage of the group phase, any advantage only truly matters if it is translated into a composed, disciplined performance on the field. Against a Kyrgyzstan side fighting for survival, U23 Vietnam must remain focused, patient, and strictly adhere to their tactical plan. If they maintain the fighting spirit shown so far, Kim Sang-sik and his players have every reason to aim for a positive result—perhaps even a victory—that would swing the door wide open to the knockout rounds.
Doan Quang
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