Hanoi, 21 January 2026 – Although U23 Vietnam were knocked out by U23 China in the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, the team earned widespread praise from regional media for their fighting spirit, composure, and an emotional campaign that underlined the growing stature of Vietnamese youth football.
Despite the semi-final loss to U23 China, U23 Vietnam continued to receive strong encouragement from regional media outlets, particularly across Southeast Asia, who emphasized that the result did not overshadow the team’s impressive overall journey at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. Thai media were among the most vocal in acknowledging the progress and resilience shown by the Vietnamese side throughout the tournament.
Thai outlet Siamsports noted that U23 Vietnam entered the semi-finals without being rated higher than the East Asian representatives, yet still managed to compete with discipline, structure, and determination. According to the publication, maintaining tactical organization and refusing to surrender mentally even in adverse moments reflected a level of maturity rarely seen from Southeast Asian teams at this stage. Siamsports stressed that reaching the top four of Asia is already clear evidence of the steady and sustainable development of Vietnam’s youth football.
Sharing a similar view, Main Stand highlighted that U23 Vietnam best embodied the “Southeast Asian identity” at this year’s tournament—dynamic, disciplined, and fearless when facing the continent’s strongest teams. The Thai publication wrote that although the final result fell short of expectations, U23 Vietnam demonstrated they are no longer a side merely attending Asian tournaments to gain experience, but one capable of competing head-on at the highest levels.
Meanwhile, Thailive described U23 Vietnam’s campaign as a positive and inspiring story for regional football. The outlet underlined that difficulties related to squad depth, physical fatigue, and psychological pressure in the knockout rounds could not diminish the bravery shown by the Vietnamese players. Thailive emphasized that the team, under the guidance of Kim Sang Sik, continued to fight until the final whistle, even when circumstances turned against them.
Another Thai platform, Ball Thai, offered a broader regional perspective, pointing out that U23 Vietnam remain the most consistent Southeast Asian representative among Asia’s elite youth teams in recent years. Although the reigning Southeast Asian champions did not reach the final or lift the continental trophy, Ball Thai argued that U23 Vietnam are still a side that commands respect across Asia. According to the outlet, a semi-final appearance at the U23 Asian Cup goes well beyond the traditional limits of Southeast Asian youth football.
Indonesian media also expressed strong empathy toward U23 Vietnam following the semi-final defeat. Seasia Goaldescribed the loss as a “defeat with honor,” suggesting that the scoreline did not fully reflect the effort, commitment, and quality displayed by Kim Sang Sik’s players throughout the tournament. The publication affirmed that U23 Vietnam remain a shared source of pride for Southeast Asia and deserve recognition from across the region.
Seasia Goal concluded by stating that although U23 Vietnam did not advance to the final, they still have every reason to hold their heads high, especially with the bronze-medal match still ahead. More importantly, in the eyes of Southeast Asian fans, U23 Vietnam have firmly established themselves as the leading force in regional youth football—playing with courage, composure, and confidence against Asia’s strongest opponents, regardless of the final outcome.
Ha Minh
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