Korean media reports: Coach Kim Sang-sik sets a historic milestone, surpassing Coach Park Hang-seo.

The Vietnam U23 team just concluded the group stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship with a narrow 1-0 victory over host nation Saudi Arabia. This result not only helped coach Kim Sang-sik's team confidently advance to the quarterfinals as group A leaders, but also created a real sensation in the South Korean media regarding the strength of Vietnamese football.

A historic milestone in the continental arena.

According to No Cut News, the victory against Saudi Arabia is proof of a major step forward in the standing of Vietnamese football on the Asian map. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team finished the group stage with a perfect record, an unprecedented achievement in previous participations.

The South Korean newspaper specifically emphasized: "This is the first time since the tournament was held in 2013 that the Vietnam U23 team has finished the group stage in first place." This demonstrates the stability and composure of the young players when facing top football powerhouses in the region.

The rise and unprecedented track record.

Notably, No Cut News conducted a direct comparison between coach Kim Sang-sik and his famous predecessor, Park Hang-seo. Although Coach Park is considered the most successful icon in the history of Vietnamese football, the South Korean media asserts that Kim is setting impressive new records.

Just six months after taking over, coach Kim Sang-sik led the Vietnamese national football team to victory in the AFF Cup, the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, and the SEA Games gold medal. No Cut News stated: "Three consecutive major titles are an unprecedented milestone, an achievement that even former coach Park Hang-seo could not reach in such a short period of time."

Defensive philosophy and a 14-match winning streak.

From a professional standpoint, experts highly appreciate the solidity and discipline in the playing style of the Vietnam U23 team. The current team no longer relies too much on moments of individual brilliance but operates on a foundation of solid defense and collective cohesion.

Statistics show that coach Kim Sang-sik has a streak of 14 consecutive wins with the Vietnam U23 team. In the group stage of this year's tournament, the team conceded only 1 goal in 3 matches. This is an impressive figure that demonstrates Vietnam's ability to compete on equal footing at the continental level.

The journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship still holds many challenges ahead, but based on what has been shown so far, the "Kim Sang-sik miracle" has every reason to continue writing new chapters in the history of Vietnamese football.