Team strength of U23 Vietnam vs U23 Laos: Difference in class
U23 Vietnam vs U23 Laos is an unequal match as the red team has superior strength and extensive international competition experience.
Vietnam U23 squad: A combination of experience and youth
U23 Vietnam entered this year's tournament with a squad that is highly regarded. 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 and Thai Son. These are players who have been trained in a top-notch 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 the First Division, contributing to increasing the depth of the squad. The balance between the lines, the combination of experienced players and young potential factors help U23 Vietnam become the leading candidate for the championship.
Laos U23 squad: Effort 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 mainly relies on fighting spirit and cohesion, but that can hardly make up for the difference in level and experience compared to U23 Vietnam. Although showing 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 many times in major tournaments, U23 Laos is still in the process of accumulating experience and perfecting its squad. This is a match where the advantage is completely on the side of coach Kim Sang Sik's students.
