Saudi Arabia, 13 January 2026 – Head coach Luigi Di Biagio admitted he felt heartbroken and ashamed after U23 Saudi Arabia created a host of chances but still lost to U23 Vietnam, crashing out in the group stage of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
At Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on the night of January 12, Saudi Arabia enjoyed 60% possession, attempted 26 shots and registered seven on target, yet failed to break down Vietnam’s defense. Vietnam, by contrast, managed only four attempts but scored with their very first shot on target, as forward Nguyen Dinh Bac found the net in the 67th minute.
It was a historic result, marking the first-ever victory for Vietnam over Saudi Arabia. In their previous 11 meetings across all levels—from U17, U20, U23 to the senior national teams—Saudi Arabia had won 10 and drawn one.
“Our players gave everything, but what happened is truly heartbreaking. It’s a painful defeat,” Di Biagio said after the match. “It is shameful to take 26 shots and still lose, while Vietnam scored from their first shot on target.”
Saudi Arabia stuck to their familiar technical, short-passing style, driven by the mobility of Musab Al Juwayr, Abdulaziz Al Elewai and Faisal Al Subiani. Needing a win to secure a quarter-final place, the hosts created wave after wave of pressure, but their finishing lacked the cutting edge to beat goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien. In the 43rd minute, the woodwork even denied Thamer Al Khaibri’s powerful header.
Di Biagio acknowledged football’s unpredictability but insisted his team did not perform poorly in the second half. “We created around four clear chances in the remaining 45 minutes, but things became more difficult as time went on,” he said. “Conceding the goal disrupted our momentum. I tried to change things, even taking a risk by using Hammam Al Hammami, who was not fully fit.”
The Italian coach went on to praise Vietnamese youth football for its maturity, organization and steady development, while also noting that stronger opponents await Vietnam in the knockout rounds. On individual performances, Di Biagio highlighted Nguyen Dinh Bac for injecting attacking energy after coming off the bench, and commended goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien for his composure and experience.
“He is very good at slowing the tempo of the game,” Di Biagio added. “That was understandable, because Vietnam only needed a draw to finish top of the group.”
Saudi Arabia ended Group A in third place with three points. Vietnam topped the group with a perfect nine points, while U23 Jordan finished second on six. U23 Kyrgyzstan finished bottom after losing all three matches. In the quarter-finals on January 16, Jordan will face U23 Japan, while Vietnam will meet either U23 Syria or U23 UAE.
This marked the third time Saudi Arabia have been eliminated in the group stage of the U23 Asian Cup, after 2016 and 2018. They also became the third host nation to exit at the group stage, following Oman in 2013 and China in 2018.
Di Biagio concluded by calling on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to invest in more competitive platforms for young players. “This is not just an issue for the U23s, but also for the senior national team,” he said. “We need long-term projects that allow young players to play and gain more competitive experience.”
Born in 1971, Di Biagio was a renowned midfielder in Italian football between 1995 and 2005, scoring 36 goals in 303 appearances for Roma and Inter Milan. After retiring in 2007, he moved into coaching, working with Italy’s U20 and U21 teams from 2011 to 2019. He briefly served as Italy’s interim national team coach in 2018, later led SPAL in Serie A during the 2019–2020 season, and had a short spell with Dinamo City in Albania before taking charge of U23 Saudi Arabia in early 2025.
Hieu Minh
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