Nagoya, 22 Sep 2026 – Vietnam U23 will face defending champions South Korea in the quarter-finals of the men’s football tournament at ASIAD 2026 after the East Asian side secured top spot in Group D with a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
South Korea confirmed their place at the top of Group D on the evening of September 22, setting up a knockout clash with Group C runners-up Vietnam. The quarter-final between Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23 will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Vietnam time on September 25, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
The match represents a major challenge for Dinh Hong Vinh’s side. South Korea enter the knockout stage as the reigning Asian Games men’s football champions and have dominated the competition in recent years, winning the gold medal at each of the last three editions.
Despite their impressive record, South Korea were made to work hard by Saudi Arabia in their final group match and struggled to find a breakthrough during the first half. The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute when Shin Min Ha rose to head home the opening goal. Just two minutes later, Kim Myung Jun struck with another header to double South Korea’s advantage and put the match firmly under their control. The 2-0 victory was enough to secure first place in Group D and a quarter-final meeting with Vietnam.
Vietnam, meanwhile, completed their Group C campaign with four points from three matches. Dinh Hong Vinh’s team opened the tournament with a draw against Kuwait before defeating the Philippines, but suffered defeat against Uzbekistan in their final group fixture. Despite that setback, Vietnam retained second place in the group and earned their ticket to the last eight.
Facing the three-time defending champions will demand a significant step up from Vietnam, particularly in their efficiency in front of goal. Dinh Hong Vinh’s players will also need to maintain concentration and defensive discipline against a South Korean side capable of punishing mistakes quickly. With a semi-final berth on the line, Vietnam will be looking to produce one of their strongest performances of the tournament when the two teams meet on September 25.
VSN/RPT
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