Indonesian media expresses concern over the strong rise of the Vietnamese U23 team under coach Kim Sang-sik.

The impressive journey of the Vietnam U23 team at the 2016 AFC U23 Asian Championship is becoming the focus of regional media attention. Although they couldn't repeat the miracle of Changzhou in 2018, reaching the semi-finals under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik has demonstrated the strong resurgence of Vietnamese football, while also creating invisible pressure on major rivals in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia.

The rise and the numbers speak for themselves.

At the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, the Vietnam U23 team displayed a very positive performance. According to analysis from CNN Indonesia, the achievement of leading the team to the semi-finals helped coach Kim Sang-sik equal the record set by his compatriot Shin Tae-yong with the Indonesian U23 team in 2024. Although they were eliminated by China U23 in the semi-finals and had to play in the third-place match against South Korea U23, Vietnam's playing style was still highly praised for its organization.

Notably, this is not a fleeting success. Under Kim Sang-sik's leadership, Vietnamese football is maintaining an impressive streak of achievements, including winning the 2024 AFF Cup and the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. These milestones demonstrate a solid foundation and effective generational continuity, something many countries in the region aspire to.

A testament to superior tactics and physical fitness.

One of the biggest highlights of coach Kim Sang-sik's tenure is the significant improvement in the physical fitness and speed of transitions for the young players. CNN Indonesia emphasized that the image of the UAE U23 team exhausted by the high-intensity play of the Vietnam U23 team in the quarterfinals is the clearest evidence of this progress. Coach Kim not only played a managerial role but also directly honed the tactical skills, transforming the Vietnam U23 team into a cohesive and difficult-to-beat unit.

Expert Rhysh Roshan Rai also commented that the stability of the youth training system and the quality of the domestic V-League are acting as a solid springboard. This helps young players gain experience and accumulate valuable match experience before stepping onto the continental stage.

Pressure is mounting on Indonesian football.

While Vietnam is thriving, Indonesian youth football is showing signs of stagnation. CNN Indonesia has expressed deep concern for new head coach John Herdman. The pressure on this strategist is immense as he must build a generation of players capable of competing on equal footing with a rapidly improving Vietnamese U23 team.

Comparisons between generations of South Korean coaches such as Park Hang-seo, Shin Tae-yong, and now Kim Sang-sik remain a hot topic. Although Kim has yet to surpass Park's historic runner-up finish in 2018, his current achievements are enough to make regional rivals wary. The race for dominance in Southeast Asian football in the coming years is expected to become even more intense as the Vietnam U23 team has already established its position on the Asian youth football map.