Vietnam U23 team to win bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Championship: A springboard for the 2030 World Cup dream.
The achievement of defeating South Korea U23 to win third place in the continent not only affirmed the position of coach Kim Sang-sik's team but also served as a strategic preparation for the World Cup.
The Vietnam U23 team set a new milestone in Saudi Arabia by defeating South Korea U23 in the third-place match to officially win the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. This result not only dispelled initial doubts but also strongly affirmed the position of Vietnamese youth football on the continental map under coach Kim Sang-sik.
Confirming their position among the top 6 teams in history.
Looking at the statistics, the consistency of Vietnamese youth football at the continental level is remarkable. This is the sixth consecutive time we have participated in the AFC U23 Asian Championship. With a record including one runner-up finish (2018), one semi-final appearance (2026), and two quarter-final appearances, Vietnam is currently among the top six teams in the history of the tournament.
Remarkably, this feat was achieved despite disadvantages in terms of physique, facilities, and financial resources compared to top rivals such as Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. The resilience and competitive spirit became increasingly evident as the tournament progressed, becoming a defining characteristic of the current generation of young Vietnamese players.
The overlapping strategy and the emergence of new factors.
The team's success lies not only in the immediate results but also in how coach Kim Sang-sik and the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) quietly laid the foundation for the future. In the bronze medal-winning squad, alongside key players from the 2003-2004 generation such as Khuất Văn Khang, Nguyễn Đình Bắc, Thái Sơn, and Lê Viktor, the coaching staff boldly gave opportunities to players born from 2005 onwards.
This is the core force aiming for the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia in 2027. Names like goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình, strikers Nguyễn Công Phương and Lê Văn Thuận, and especially the youngest player Nguyễn Lê Phát, have been directly tested in the most demanding environment in the continent. Lê Phát securing a starting spot in this year's tournament is seen as extremely valuable preparation for the long-term goals of Vietnamese football.
Vision for ASIAD 2026 and goals for the 2030 World Cup.
Another strategic decision is to send the Vietnam U21 team to the 2026 Asian Games instead of the U23+3 squad. The goal is to give talented players like Nguyen Bao Long, Le Dinh Long Vu, Dinh Quang Kiet, and Nguyen Manh Hung the opportunity to compete against top opponents in older age groups. Accepting the risk of lower performance at the Asian Games in exchange for valuable match experience demonstrates the coaching staff's long-term vision.
All tournaments, from Southeast Asian to continental levels, are links in the path towards the 2030 World Cup. The current Vietnam U23 team serves as a "nursery" for coach Kim Sang-sik to promote and revitalize the national team. The confidence gained from competing on equal terms with South Korea or Japan at the youth level is a crucial psychological foundation for Vietnamese football to enter the World Cup qualifiers with a completely different mindset.
