Saudi Arabia, 13 January 2026 – Members of U23 Jordan celebrated emotionally and expressed their gratitude to U23 Vietnam and head coach Kim Sang-sik after Vietnam’s victory over Saudi Arabia helped them secure a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
In the early hours of January 13 (Vietnam time), U23 Vietnam returned to their hotel in a joyful atmosphere after defeating U23 Saudi Arabia 1-0. The result saw head coach Kim Sang-sik and his players complete the group stage with a perfect record, confidently advancing to the quarter-finals as Group A winners.
At the same time, U23 Jordan also fulfilled their objective by beating U23 Kyrgyzstan to secure qualification. As both teams were staying at the same hotel, players and coaching staff from U23 Jordan encountered the Vietnamese delegation in the hotel lobby. There, the West Asian representatives proactively shook hands and repeatedly said “thanks” to the Vietnamese side, expressing their appreciation and shared joy.
Vietnam’s victory not only eliminated the host nation U23 Saudi Arabia but also indirectly propelled U23 Jordan to second place in Group A with six points, officially earning them a quarter-final berth. This friendly and respectful moment was later shared by the Vietnam Football Federation on its official fanpage, accompanied by the caption: “U23 Jordan could not hide their joy when U23 Vietnam won and expressed their thanks to coach Kim Sang-sik and his players for helping them qualify for the quarter-finals.”
Earlier, during the final round of group matches, U23 Jordan had been playing against U23 Kyrgyzstan while closely following the simultaneous fixture between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. As Jordan’s match ended earlier, the entire team gathered to watch the final minutes of Vietnam’s game on their mobile phones. When the final whistle blew, confirming Vietnam’s 1-0 victory, U23 Jordan erupted in celebration right on the pitch.
According to the quarter-final schedule, U23 Vietnam will face the runners-up of Group B—either U23 UAE or U23 Syria—on January 16. Meanwhile, U23 Jordan are set to take on a formidable challenge against U23 Japan, the winners of Group B, in the knockout stage.
Thanh Nam
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