Saudi Arabia, 14 January 2026 – U23 Vietnam returned to the training ground on the afternoon of January 13 to begin preparations for their quarterfinal match at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
After completing the group stage with a demanding schedule of one match every three days, head coach Kim Sang-sikprioritized recovery in the first post-match session. Players who featured for more than 60 minutes focused on recovery exercises, while the remaining squad members maintained their physical conditioning and continued working on tactical drills as directed by the coaching staff.
Speaking before the session, striker Nguyen Quoc Viet said: “Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, the whole team will review match footage, analyze the opponent, and listen carefully to the plans laid out by the coaching staff to ensure the best possible preparation. In attack, everyone has the ability and is ready to contribute whenever given the opportunity.”
On the evening of January 13, coach Kim Sang-sik and several members of the coaching staff were also present at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium to watch the decisive Group B match between U23 UAE and U23 Syria, which determined U23 Vietnam’s quarterfinal opponent. The 1-1 draw saw U23 UAE finish second in Group B and set up a quarterfinal clash with U23 Vietnam, while U23 Japan will face U23 Jordan.
According to the schedule, U23 Vietnam will meet U23 UAE at 22:30 (Vietnam time) on January 16. The coaching staff are actively collecting and analyzing information on the opponent and finalizing tactical plans, with the goal of extending U23 Vietnam’s impressive run at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
Minh Anh
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