Coach Kim Sang-sik will miss the opportunity to lead the Vietnam U23 team at the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the national team's matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, coach Kim Sang-sik will not be directly coaching the Vietnam U23 team in the four-team tournament in Xi'an.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has just confirmed that the Vietnam U23 team will travel to Xi'an, China to participate in the CFA Team China 2026 international friendly tournament. However, the focus of attention is on the coaching staff, as head coach Kim Sang-sik will not be accompanying the young players on this trip.
Quality Challenge in Xi'an
The CFA Team China 2026 tournament is scheduled to take place from March 25th to 31st, 2026, featuring four teams: host China, Vietnam, Thailand, and North Korea. The teams will compete in a round-robin format to determine the champion. Notably, the Vietnam U23 team accepted the invitation to participate after the Iran U23 team withdrew at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances.
This is considered an extremely important opportunity for the next generation of Vietnamese football players to gain experience. In particular, the match against rival U23 Thailand always attracts great interest and serves as an accurate measure of the team's preparation for important future goals.
Prioritizing the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
The main reason why coach Kim Sang-sik cannot lead the Vietnam U23 team is due to a complete scheduling conflict. In late March, the South Korean strategist needs to focus all his efforts on the Vietnamese national team to prepare for key objectives.
Specifically, the Vietnamese national team will have a friendly match against Bangladesh before their crucial rematch with Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This is a top priority for the VFF and coach Kim Sang-sik to ensure they advance deep into the continental tournament.
Assistant Dinh Hong Vinh takes over the hot seat.
With Mr. Kim absent, assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh is likely to once again assume the role of interim head coach, leading the U23 team to China. Mr. Vinh is no stranger to the sport, having served as interim coach in numerous international friendly tournaments and receiving high praise for his expertise.
The selection of Mr. Dinh Hong Vinh is seen as the optimal solution to maintain stability and continue the football philosophy that the coaching staff is building. Fans expect the Vietnam U23 team to continue making positive impressions in Xi'an at the end of March.
