Saudi Arabia, 2 January 2026 – After completing their training camp and friendly match in Qatar, U23 Vietnam have officially travelled to Saudi Arabia to begin their campaign at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, with the team entering the final phase of preparations ahead of the group-stage opener.
On the morning of January 2 (local time), U23 Vietnam departed Doha and headed to Jeddah, the host city for Group A matches at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. The squad, led by head coach Kim Sang Sik, has now officially arrived in Saudi Arabia, marking the start of their journey at the continental tournament.
At the finals, U23 Vietnam have been drawn into Group A alongside U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan, and hosts U23 Saudi Arabia. According to the official schedule, U23 Vietnam will open their campaign against Jordan on January 6, face Kyrgyzstan on January 9, and conclude the group stage with a decisive clash against the host nation on January 12.
Prior to travelling to Saudi Arabia, U23 Vietnam underwent an intensive training camp in Qatar to fine-tune tactics and stabilise the squad. As part of that preparation, the team played a friendly match against U23 Syria on December 30. The match provided the coaching staff with an important opportunity to assess player fitness, test tactical variations, and make final adjustments before the official competition.
The flight from Doha to Jeddah lasted approximately two hours. During their stay in Qatar, U23 Vietnam trained in relatively cool conditions, with temperatures ranging from 11 to 18 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the weather in Jeddah is expected to be warmer, around 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, conditions that are considered favourable for both training and match play.
According to the team’s plan, U23 Vietnam landed at Jeddah airport at 12:30 local time before travelling around 20 minutes to their hotel. Based on the players’ physical condition and the schedule for the day, coach Kim Sang Sik will decide whether the team will train immediately. If conditions allow, U23 Vietnam are expected to hold their first training session in Jeddah at 18:30 on the same day, officially beginning the final countdown to their opening match at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
Hoai Phuong
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