Dinh Bac and the Vietnam U23 team are determined to succeed at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.
On the afternoon of December 27th, the Vietnam U23 team held their first training session in Doha (Qatar), officially kicking off their preparations for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. In the intense training atmosphere, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac showed high levels of concentration. Putting aside the joy of winning the 2025 Vietnam Silver Ball award, the 2004-born forward focused all his attention on the common goal with the Vietnam U23 team.
From the Silver Ball to the continental "test"
During the nearly two-hour training session, coach Kim Sang-sik and his staff proactively increased the intensity of the workout to help the players quickly overcome inertia and adapt to the weather conditions and time zone in Qatar. The atmosphere on the training ground showed that the Vietnam U23 team is seriously preparing, as the 2026 AFC U23 Championship is considered much more challenging than the SEA Games 33. The intensity is higher, the opponents are more diverse, and the margin of error is smaller.
Before the training session, Dinh Bac affirmed that the entire team was well-prepared and in a positive mood. “We are very excited to enter the training phase in Qatar before heading to Saudi Arabia to participate in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship. This is a crucial stage, so everyone is focusing intensely,” the striker born in 2004 shared.
Dinh Bac had a successful 2025, highlighted by winning the 2025 Vietnam Silver Ball award. However, he was unable to attend the awards gala due to his duties with the Vietnam U23 team. This story clearly illustrates the pace of life for a young player maturing: joy comes quickly, but a packed schedule of matches and training forces them to balance their emotions, maintain discipline, and focus like a professional player.
Without shying away from pressure, Dinh Bac sees fans' expectations as motivation. “I will train hard and maintain a healthy lifestyle to be in the best condition and form, meeting the fans' expectations. For me, individual titles are a form of recognition, but the team's achievements are always the most important thing,” he emphasized.
That message shows maturity in thinking, recognizing that individual accolades are merely milestones, while the ultimate measure remains the collective effort and the team's results in continental competitions.
For Dinh Bac, the 2026 AFC U23 Championship also holds significance as a test of character. “This is an opportunity for the whole team to test their abilities and competitive spirit at the Asian level. I hope the whole team will be determined, play well, and achieve positive results for Vietnamese football,” the striker said.
With the Vietnam U23 team aiming for long-term stability, matches in the Asian tournament will be the clearest measure of their playing quality, tactical discipline, and ability to handle pressure.
Adapt to Qatar, accelerate before the big moment.
One of the immediate challenges for the Vietnam U23 team is the time difference. Dinh Bac admitted that the whole team experienced fatigue at times due to Qatar being 4 hours behind Vietnam, but affirmed that this was not a major obstacle. “The 4-hour time difference caused some fatigue, but as professional players, the whole team is trying to adjust their daily routines and rest accordingly. Everyone is very determined and has high goals for this year's U23 Asian Championship,” he added.
According to the plan, the Vietnam U23 team will have an internal friendly match with the Syria U23 team to assess their squad and refine their playing style before traveling to Saudi Arabia on January 2, 2026. This is considered the final "final step," where the coaching staff will test the effectiveness of tactical approaches, the level of connection between the lines, and the physical condition of each individual player.
In the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, Vietnam U23 will face Jordan U23 at 6:30 PM, Kyrgyzstan U23 at 9:30 PM, and Saudi Arabia U23 at 11:30 PM (Vietnam time). This schedule requires the team to not only prepare professionally but also carefully consider their physical fitness, recovery, and biological rhythm, given the consecutive late-night matches.
As the season enters its crucial final stages, Dinh Bac faces another important milestone: transforming his accumulated achievements from previous titles into consistency on the Asian stage. The 2025 Silver Ball may be recognition for his journey so far, but Doha and the trip to Saudi Arabia are where he and the Vietnam U23 team will answer the big question: are they ready to step onto the continent with renewed confidence?
