Vietnam U23 team faces continental challenge: Coach Kim Sang-sik and hopes to break the Southeast Asian curse.
After winning a treble of regional titles, the Vietnam U23 team entered the 2026 AFC U23 Championship as the leading team in Southeast Asia, along with concerns about VAR and adapting to the environment in Saudi Arabia.
The Vietnam U23 team is shouldering a historic mission for Southeast Asian football at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. After sweeping all regional titles in 2025, coach Kim Sang-sik's squad is expected to become the first representative from the region to reach the pinnacle of continental youth football, breaking the dominance of East, West, and Central Asian powers.
Expectations from the AFC and the historic ambitions of Vietnamese football.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has placed the Vietnam U23 and Thailand U23 teams in the spotlight, emphasizing that Southeast Asia remains a "blank spot" in terms of titles at this tournament. The AFC's confidence is well-founded, considering the performance of Coach Kim Sang-sik's team. Most recently, on December 18, 2025, Vietnam U23 defeated Thailand 3-2 in a dramatic SEA Games 33 final to reaffirm their position as the region's number one team.
However, the 2026 AFC U23 Championship in Saudi Arabia will be a test of a completely different level of difficulty. Despite possessing an impressive collection of titles including the 2024 ASEAN Cup and the SEA Games 33 gold medal, coach Kim Sang-sik is still facing doubts about his ability to adapt his tactics when facing opponents outside the region, especially after the 0-4 defeat against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Adaptation barriers and preparation in Saudi Arabia
Upon arriving in Saudi Arabia on January 2nd, the Vietnam U23 team faced non-technical challenges. Defender Nguyen Hieu Minh stated that, despite the weather being quite similar to Thailand, the temperature difference due to the air conditioning system in their accommodation and the Middle Eastern culinary culture were causing certain difficulties for the players' recovery process.
In this context, the difference in squad depth and stability is an advantage for Vietnam compared to their arch-rival Thailand. While Coach Kim Sang-sik's team has maintained a stable core and had a quality training camp in Qatar, the Thai U23 team is facing a serious personnel shortage due to clubs refusing to release players.
The issue of discipline and the presence of VAR.
A crucial weakness that the Vietnam U23 team needs to overcome ahead of the continental tournament is the issue of discipline. Statistics show that at the 33rd SEA Games, key players like Thai Son, Dinh Bac, and Van Khang received as many as 10 yellow cards in just 4 matches. In the Asian arena, where the VAR system operates extremely strictly, uncontrolled fouls can lead to severe penalties, changing the course of the match.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has repeatedly reminded his players of the difference between regional and continental levels. The solidity of the defense – a highlight of the qualifying round where they were among the top seven teams with the fewest goals conceded – will be key for the Vietnam U23 team to face strong opponents in Group A.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's standing in the region
Notably, Indonesian media (Seasia Goal) highly praised Vietnam's steadfast adherence to the Korean football philosophy. After coaches Shin Tae-yong and Kim Pan-gon left, Kim Sang-sik is currently the only Korean strategist remaining in charge of top Southeast Asian national teams. His discipline and pragmatic approach are seen as a suitable fit to help the Vietnam U23 team create surprises against Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and host Saudi Arabia in the upcoming Group A matches.
