Viet Tri, 3 September, 2025 – U23 Vietnam began their AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh on September 3 at Viet Tri Stadium. The result puts coach Kim Sang-sik’s side at the top of Group C, level on three points with Yemen but ahead on goal difference.
Speaking after the match, coach Kim expressed satisfaction with the result but admitted there is still much room for improvement. “Today we played in hot weather but got a good result. I am pleased with the win. In the second half, we created many chances, but their goalkeeper produced excellent saves. We also hit the crossbar and the post in some situations. Overall, I am not fully satisfied, but we will improve to prepare for the upcoming matches,” Kim said.
Group C includes Vietnam, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Yemen. The South Korean coach personally attended the match between Yemen and Singapore and shared his observations: “The most important factor is physical fitness. The hot conditions affect all players, especially over 90 minutes. The level of the four teams is quite similar, so we must prepare as thoroughly as possible.”
Kim also took time to highlight standout performances from his players, especially Viktor Le, who scored his first goal for the U23 team with a decisive header in the second half. “Viktor Le did well, followed the tactics, and I congratulate him on his goal. Thanh Nhan also impressed on his return from injury, with intelligent movement. I hope he will show even more in the next two matches. As for Xuan Bac, his stamina is good and he runs a lot, but he can still improve his passing and movement to become more complete in the future,” the coach commented.
On the opposite side, assistant coach Hassan Al Mamun of Bangladesh acknowledged Vietnam’s superiority. “The absence of our head coach was not the reason for our defeat. The players’ duty is to compete, with or without the coach present. Vietnam U23 is the strongest team in the group, and that is why we lost,” he said.
Despite the setback, Bangladesh remain determined to fight for qualification. “We must achieve good results in the next match against Yemen. We are calculating step by step, but our goal is to win both remaining matches to secure a ticket to the final tournament,” Hassan added.
Vietnam U23 will next face Singapore on September 6 before meeting Yemen in a potentially decisive clash on September 9. With three points already in hand, coach Kim Sang-sik and his players know consistency and sharper finishing will be crucial to turning their strong start into a successful qualification campaign.
Hong Phuc
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