Saudi Arabia, 16 January 2026 – U23 Vietnam’s players are steadily pushing forward on the road to the final, hoping to recreate the feat achieved by their predecessors in 2018. This time, the high spirits generated by three consecutive group-stage victories have provided an extra boost, helping Dinh Bac and his teammates surge ahead with confidence.
The current journey of U23 Vietnam inevitably brings back memories of the historic campaign under Park Hang-seo at Changzhou in 2018. Back then, U23 Vietnam emerged as a “nemesis” of West Asian teams, drawing with U23 Syria in the group stage before knocking out U23 Iraq and U23 Qatar in the knockout rounds via dramatic penalty shootouts.
At this tournament, U23 Vietnam have already defeated two West Asian representatives in the group stage — U23 Jordan and hosts U23 Saudi Arabia. Those results have further lifted morale ahead of the quarter-final clash with U23 United Arab Emirates on the evening of January 16. At this point, head coach Kim Sang-sik has a full and stable squad at his disposal, both in terms of form and collective confidence.
Encouragingly, the defensive system has remained intact with its strongest core preserved, while in attack Kim Sang-sik enjoys multiple options, as all players are fit and ready to contribute. In addition to Le Phat, Quoc Viet and Dinh Bac, U23 Vietnam can also rely on Thanh Nhan as a potential “secret weapon” up front.
There are plenty of favorable factors for U23 Vietnam to believe in a positive outcome in this match. However, given the do-or-die nature of the knockout format, caution remains essential. The first requirement is maintaining “cool heads”, dialing down the post-group-stage euphoria to return to the discipline and composure that have defined the team’s success.
Knowing both oneself and the opponent was the key that brought triumph to Park Hang-seo’s side eight years ago, and that lesson remains relevant. Despite finishing only second in their group, U23 UAE are still a formidable opponent, with clear advantages in physicality, strength and overall experience.
After three group-stage matches, the tactical approaches of both sides have largely been revealed. What remains now is execution on the pitch — and the ability of individuals to step up and shine at decisive moments.
Mai Hoang
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