Vietnamese football is rising to prominence.

Eight years after finishing as runners-up in the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in Changzhou, the Vietnam U23 team once again thrilled Vietnamese fans with a bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship in the sunny Middle East.

Vietnam U23 (in red jerseys) defeated South Korea U23 for the first time in 20 years - Photo: AFC

The U23 Vietnamese players returned to the embrace of fans who crowded Noi Bai Airport on the evening of January 24th.

Among the crowd, the mother of center-back Hieu Minh couldn't hold back her tears as she welcomed her son home in a wheelchair.

No medal is heavier than a mother's tears. But Hieu Minh can be proud of having made a memorable journey with the Vietnam U23 team in Saudi Arabia, causing Vietnamese fans to have sleepless nights celebrating the victory in the streets.

All six matches played by the Vietnam U23 team in the tournament brought a lot of emotions. The emotions of victories against strong opponents that they had never overcome before.

The feeling of breathlessness after defeating the UAE U23 team 3-2 in extra time in the quarter-finals with a physically demanding style of play.

And there was the feeling of pride after overcoming South Korea U23 in the penalty shootout, after having to defend for 30 minutes of extra time with only 10 players on the field because Dinh Bac received a red card. Mixed with that was the sadness and disappointment after the 0-3 defeat against China U23 in the semi-finals due to misjudging the opponent.

The victory against South Korea U23 led Asian fans to call it "a stunning victory for Vietnam U23 in Asia."

Meanwhile, the South Korean media called their team's defeat shameful and unforgettable in the history of Korean football. The victory against the South Korean U23 team also highlighted one thing: the current Vietnamese U23 team won based on their own strength and ability.

The gap with powerhouses like South Korea or Saudi Arabia still exists, but it has been significantly narrowed by improved performance, tactical organization, and distinct individual contributions.

But the strength of the Vietnam U23 team lies not only in how they win, but also in how they make Vietnamese football believe in itself.

Because once we invest well in youth training and compete with all our aspirations, we can reach any limit. That is the Vietnamese spirit in football, and more broadly, the spirit of a nation entering an era of progress.

The Vietnam U23 team won a valuable bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Dinh Bac also made history for Vietnamese football by winning the "Top Scorer" title with 4 goals and 2 assists.

This is not only a memorable achievement for Dinh Bac and the Vietnam U23 team. It is also a confirmation of a generation of players with great potential, further strengthening the hope for Vietnam's World Cup dream in football.

After nearly two years with the team, Coach Kim Sang Sik has brought many successes to Vietnamese football. The South Korean coach affirmed that the journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship showed that the Vietnam U23 team is fully capable of competing on the continental stage, and also serves as an important foundation for the players to continue developing, aiming to contribute to the national team in the future.

The foundation has been built through a generation of promising young players, possessing the maturity and experience to compete on the continental stage.

Now is the time for Vietnamese football to continue investing in raising the level of the current U23 team, thereby aiming for bigger dreams, especially the World Cup.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-da-viet-vuon-minh-20260126080106036.htm