Saudi Arabia, 8 January 2026 – Iranian referee Payam Heydari will take charge of the crucial Group A encounter between U23 Vietnam and U23 Kyrgyzstan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, a match that could play a decisive role in the race for a quarterfinal place.
The second Group A fixture between U23 Vietnam and U23 Kyrgyzstan at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 will kick off at 21:00 on January 9. The match officials for this encounter have now been officially confirmed by the organizing committee.
Accordingly, Iranian referee Payam Heydari will serve as the main referee. He will be assisted by his compatriots Farhad Farhadpoor and Ali Ahmadi, while the fourth official is Zaid Thamer Mohammed from Iraq. The VAR team includes Muhammad Taqi of Singapore and Luk Kin Sun from Hong Kong (China).
Payam Heydari is a highly experienced FIFA-listed referee, with more than a decade of officiating experience in major AFC competitions. He has previously handled numerous high-profile continental matches and is regarded as one of Iran’s most reliable referees. However, this will be the first time he officiates a match involving a Vietnamese representative at any level.
The clash with U23 Kyrgyzstan is of major importance for U23 Vietnam in Group A. After a strong start to the tournament, a victory in this match would significantly boost the chances of coach Kim Sang-sik’s side securing an early place in the quarterfinals, reducing pressure ahead of the final group match.
The match will be followed closely by fans at home, as U23 Vietnam continue their campaign at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 with the clear objective of advancing deep into the tournament.
Leave a Reply