Schedule for the final and third-place match at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.

VHO - The Vietnam U23 team will conclude their journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship with a third-place match against South Korea U23 tonight, January 23rd.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Vietnam U23 lost 0-3 to China U23, while South Korea U23 also bowed out after a narrow 0-1 defeat against Japan U23.

Vietnam U23 will aim for a good result against South Korea U23.

According to statistics from the website transfermarkt, the Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23 teams have met 5 times in the past. The results show that Vietnam U23 won 1 match, drew 1, and lost 3. Vietnam U23's only victory came in 1991.

The Vietnam U23 team will enter the bronze medal match without their strongest squad due to the absence of two key defenders: center-back Hieu Minh due to injury and center-back Ly Duc due to suspension.

For the Vietnamese U23 players, the match against South Korea U23 is not only significant in terms of ranking, but also an opportunity to affirm their character, demonstrate their ambition, and show their will to rise again after the defeat in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the Japanese U23 team will face the Chinese U23 team in the final match on the evening of January 24th.

Japan U23 (left) have a chance to defend their title.

Japan U23 were considered the stronger team, showing impressive form by winning against Syria U23 5-0, UAE U23 3-0, and Qatar U23 2-0 in the group stage, overcoming Jordan U23 on penalties in the quarter-finals, and defeating South Korea U23 1-0 in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the Chinese U23 team is highly regarded for its solid defense; they are the only team so far in the tournament that has not conceded a single goal.

China's U23 team remained unbeaten in the group stage after beating Australia's U23 team 1-0 and drawing 0-0 with both Thailand's U23 team and Iraq's U23 team.

In the quarter-finals, China U23 defeated title contenders Uzbekistan U23 on penalties before overcoming Vietnam U23 3-0 in the semi-finals.

Despite being considered the underdog, the Chinese U23 team promises to spring a surprise against the defending champions, Japan U23, in the final.

The final match between Japan U23 and China U23 will take place at 10:00 PM on January 24th (Vietnam time) at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia).

Meanwhile, the third-place match between Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23 will take place at 10:00 PM on January 23rd (Vietnam time) at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/lich-thi-dau-chung-ket-and-tranh-hang-ba-tai-vck-u23-chau-a-2026-199488.html