Team strength of U23 Vietnam vs U23 Laos: Difference in class
U23 Vietnam vs U23 Laos is an unequal match when the red team has superior force and extensive international competition experience.
Vietnam U23 squad: A combination of experience and youth
U23 Vietnam entered this year's tournament with a force that is highly rated. Many players in the squad have played for the national team and competed in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers or the Asian Cup finals such as Thanh Nhan, Van Khang, Van Truong, Dinh Bac or Thai Son. These are faces that have been trained in a top environment, possessing outstanding technique, tactical vision and physical strength.
Under coach Kim Sang Sik, the U23 Vietnam squad operates according to a modern football philosophy, emphasizing organization and control. Besides the prominent stars, young faces such as Viktor Le, Ly Duc, Nhat Minh... are also performing stably in the V.League and First Division, contributing to increasing the depth of the squad. The balance between the lines, the combination of experienced players and potential young factors help U23 Vietnam become the leading candidate for the championship.
Laos U23 squad: Efforts within limits
Meanwhile, U23 Laos remains loyal to the defensive counter-attacking style of play, focusing on discipline. They have a number of outstanding players such as goalkeeper Kop Lokphathip, center-back Anantaza, midfielder Aliyakone and striker Phousomboun - who scored against Cambodia in the opening match. However, in general, the U23 Laos squad still has many limitations in terms of technique, speed and ability to withstand high pressure.
The team from the Land of Millions of Elephants relies mainly on fighting spirit and cohesion, but that can hardly make up for the difference in level and experience compared to U23 Vietnam. Although they showed progress when holding Cambodia to a draw, when facing a strong and talented team like Vietnam, the Lao players will face many difficulties in implementing their playing style.
The confrontation between U23 Vietnam and U23 Laos shows a clear difference in terms of strength. While U23 Vietnam has a balanced, quality squad and has stumbled a lot in big tournaments, U23 Laos is still in the process of accumulating experience and perfecting the squad. This is a match where the advantage is completely on the side of coach Kim Sang Sik's students.
