Saudi Arabia, 13 January 2026 – South Korean media have unanimously lauded head coach Kim Sang-sik after he guided U23 Vietnam to a flawless group-stage campaign at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, highlighting his bold personnel choices and flexible tactical approach.
South Korean sports media have showered praise on Kim Sang-sik following U23 Vietnam’s historic achievement of winning all three group-stage matches at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. Across major outlets, the Korean coach has been credited not only for the results, but also for the clear tactical identity and mental resilience he has instilled in the Vietnamese side.
Sports World opened its coverage with an emotional assessment, describing U23 Vietnam’s journey as a “miracle-like run powered by brave fighting spirit.” The outlet noted that Kim Sang-sik became the first head coach to lead U23 Vietnam to three consecutive group-stage victories in an official tournament. The 1-0 win over U23 Saudi Arabia on January 13 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City in Jeddah sealed a perfect nine points and confirmed top spot in Group A.
According to Sports World, the foundation of U23 Vietnam’s success lies in their disciplined structure, strong organization and relentless work rate. After three group matches, the team conceded only one goal, an impressive defensive record against opponents known for their aggressive, high-tempo approach.
Meanwhile, News1 emphasized the significance of U23 Vietnam finishing above physically superior and more experienced sides such as U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan and U23 Saudi Arabia. The outlet quoted Kim Sang-sik admitting that even he did not expect three straight wins in the group stage, attributing the achievement to the players’ collective sacrifice, unity and unwavering commitment throughout the tournament.
Veteran newspaper DongA Ilbo described the campaign as a historic milestone for Vietnamese football at U23 level. The paper underlined that this is the first time U23 Vietnam have won all group-stage matches at an Asian championship, and also the first time they have defeated U23 Saudi Arabia in this competition. DongA Ilbo devoted significant attention to Kim Sang-sik’s personnel management, pointing out that his timely and daring substitutions in the second halves against Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia played a decisive role in changing the course of those matches.
Korea Daily focused on the physical dimension, noting that U23 Vietnam’s average height at the tournament is just 177.39 cm, ranking 15th out of 16 teams. The paper described it as “extremely rare” for a team with such physical limitations to dominate the group stage at Asian level. According to Korea Daily, this achievement underscores Kim Sang-sik’s ability to build a clear playing identity: a team that can absorb pressure, remain patient and strike decisively on the counterattack.
Overall, Korean media agree that the recognition for Kim Sang-sik goes beyond the perfect group-stage record. His impact is seen in the way he organizes the team, rotates personnel with confidence and transmits a strong competitive mentality to his players. With U23 Vietnam set to face U23 UAE or U23 Syria in the quarter-finals, South Korean outlets are eager to see whether their compatriot can continue leaving his mark on the continental stage.
Hanh Phuong
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