Jordanian media warns of Vietnam's U23 team's strength at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.
Ahead of their opening match in Group A, Al Jazeera news agency predicted that the Vietnam U23 team would be a formidable challenge, capable of causing a major surprise to Jordan's ambitions.
This afternoon, football fans' attention will be focused on the highly anticipated match in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship between Vietnam U23 and Jordan U23. Before kick-off, Jordanian media and major newspapers in the Middle East unexpectedly offered cautious assessments, highly praising the strength of Coach Kim Sang-sik's team.
The transformation of the Vietnam U23 team in the eyes of their opponents.
The renowned news agency Al Jazeera, in its update section on the developments in Group A, called this match the most noteworthy encounter of the group in the opening round. Notably, Al Jazeera no longer automatically considered Jordan a contender for victory. Instead, they emphasized that the Vietnam U23 team has transformed into a cohesive unit capable of posing a challenge to any major team.
Facing Vietnam in the opening match is considered a difficult challenge for the Jordan coaching staff. The stability and consistent participation in major tournaments have helped the Vietnam U23 team assert their position, forcing West Asian teams to completely change their approach and view their opponents as being on equal footing in both skill and technique.
Jordan U23 are preparing thoroughly for the crucial match.
Besides being cautious, Jordan's Al-Ghad newspaper revealed that their squad this year is formidable thanks to a combination of players with national team experience and young talents who have just gone through a series of quality friendly matches against Japan and Uzbekistan. This preparation shows that Jordan highly values the importance of the opening match.
The situation in Group A is a matter of life and death.
With Group A featuring the "giant" Saudi Arabia and the unpredictable Kyrgyzstan, the result of the match between Vietnam and Jordan is considered crucial. Al Jazeera predicts that this outcome will directly shape the race for a place in the quarter-finals for both teams.
The respect from the international media is a positive sign affirming the position of Vietnamese football. However, it also serves as a warning that opponents will approach the match with utmost caution, forcing coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to maintain high concentration in order to seek a favorable result.
