AFC ranks Vietnam U23 among title contenders: Chinese media surprised.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has caused a stir by officially including the Vietnam U23 team in its list of top contenders for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship title. Notably, the continent's football governing body placed coach Kim Sang-sik's team on par with powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, sparking lively discussions in the regional media.

The astonishment of the Chinese media.

Chinese sports news site Sina published an article expressing astonishment at the AFC's assessment. According to Sina, although the AFC's social media posts are usually youthful and humorous, including Vietnam in the group of championship contenders shows that the strength of the "Golden Star Warriors" is being recognized at the highest level by international experts.

Sina commented: "The AFC's inclusion of Vietnam among the championship contenders is clearly surprising. Normally, such an assessment is reserved for top teams like Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia." The newspaper also emphasized that the AFC's favoritism towards Vietnamese football is not just temporary but based on historical achievements, most notably the miraculous journey in Changzhou in 2018.

A superior position compared to the other teams in the group.

The difference in status of the Vietnam U23 team becomes even clearer when compared to their opponents in the same group. While the Jordan U23 team is only considered by the AFC as a team "with the potential to go far" based on their physical attributes, and the Kyrgyzstan U23 team is seen as the weakest in the group, the Vietnam U23 team is receiving the greatest expectations for the championship.

This is proof that the prestige of Vietnamese youth football in continental competitions is rising after consecutive successes in the region, especially the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. The AFC even used a status update in Vietnamese: "Vietnam U23 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship Finals: not to be trifled with!" to affirm the strength of coach Kim Sang-sik's team.

Preparation process and roadmap for conquest.

To prepare for the tournament, the Vietnam U23 team played a closed-door friendly match against Syria U23 on the evening of December 30th. Although they narrowly lost 1-2, the match provided valuable data for coach Kim Sang-sik in assessing the squad and refining his tactical plan before embarking on their official journey in the Asian arena.

Here is the schedule for the Vietnam U23 team in the group stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship:

The team's biggest challenge will lie in the final match against host nation Saudi Arabia. However, with thorough preparation and recognition from the AFC, fans have every right to hope for a new step forward for Vietnamese football on the continental map.