Hanoi, 5 March 2026 – Due to domestic instability, Iran U23 have withdrawn from the upcoming international friendly tournament in China, and Vietnam U23 have been invited to replace them.
At the end of March 2026, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) will host an international U23 friendly tournament in Shaanxi Province, featuring China U23 and three invited teams. The competition aims to provide valuable match experience for U23 players as part of preparations for the Asian Games (ASIAD 20).
Initially, the CFA invited Iran U23, North Korea U23, and Thailand U23 to participate. According to Chinese media, the organizers selected these opponents to give China U23 the chance to face a variety of teams rather than repeatedly playing familiar rivals such as Vietnam, Uzbekistan, or South Korea.
However, the unstable situation in Iran has forced their U23 team to withdraw from the tournament. In response, the CFA quickly extended an invitation to Vietnam U23, which was accepted.
As a result, the four teams set to compete in the international U23 friendly tournament in China in March 2026 will be Vietnam U23, China U23, North Korea U23, and Thailand U23.
The tournament will take place at the stadium in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, with matches scheduled from March 25 to March 31, 2026.
VSN/RPT
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