'Delicious' match schedule and waiting for the surprising ending of U.23 Vietnam

In theory, the schedule for U.23 Vietnam in the final round of the U.23 Asian Cup is quite favorable. Only in the last match, coach Kim Sang-sik's team will face the strongest team in the group, Saudi Arabia. Before that, we will meet opponents of equal strength.

In the final match of the qualifying round, U.23 Vietnam met its toughest opponent.

According to the schedule of the group stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam U23 team will meet Jordan on January 6, 2026, Kyrgyzstan on January 9, 2026, and Saudi Arabia on January 12, 2026.

U.23 Vietnam has a favorable match schedule.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

Among the teams in Group A with U.23 Vietnam, U.23 Saudi Arabia is theoretically the strongest team. Saudi Arabia is both a representative of one of the strongest football nations in Asia and the host team of the final round of this tournament. Therefore, the match with the host team Saudi Arabia will be the most difficult match for U.23 Vietnam in the group stage.

We will play against U.23 Saudi Arabia last. Before playing against the home team, coach Kim Sang-sik's team will have time to study this opponent, through the matches of U.23 Saudi Arabia with Kyrgyzstan and Jordan. Even if U.23 Vietnam can handle the two opponents Jordan and Kyrgyzstan in the first two matches, coach Kim Sang-sik's team will not need to play a do-or-die match with U.23 Saudi Arabia.

Focus on solving 2 main competitors

Jordan and Kyrgyzstan are the main opponents of U.23 Vietnam in the group stage of the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship. These teams will compete with us for a ticket to the quarter-finals. The strength of U.23 Jordan and U.23 Kyrgyzstan is quite similar, they are not stronger than U.23 Vietnam. Therefore, facing teams of equal strength early on helps the U.23 Vietnam team not face too much pressure in the early stages of the tournament.

The first two matches of the group stage are very important for U.23 Vietnam.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

Regarding the first opponent, U.23 Jordan, former Vice President of VFF Duong Vu Lam gave advice: "U.23 Jordan basically has a playing style quite similar to U.23 Yemen in the qualifying round. Of course, U.23 Jordan is better than Yemen, but this advantage is not too big, U.23 Vietnam can have a chance against this team. In addition, U.23 Jordan also has a playing style similar to the Syrian teams that Vietnamese football has encountered several times in recent years. Therefore, we can study those matches before drawing lessons for ourselves."

Regarding U.23 Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Duong Vu Lam said: "The Central Asian team is not better than the U.23 Vietnam players in terms of physique, physical strength, and speed. They have good technique, but also in terms of technique, the U.23 Vietnam players are not inferior. Therefore, U.23 Vietnam will have many attacking options when facing U.23 Kyrgyzstan. If they handle the first two matches against Jordan and Kyrgyzstan well, U.23 Vietnam will relieve a lot of pressure before entering the final match against U.23 Saudi Arabia."

Being in a favorable group and enjoying a favorable match schedule, U.23 Vietnam has many advantages to seek good results at the 2026 U.23 Asian Cup.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lich-thi-dau-ngon-lanh-va-cho-doi-cai-ket-bat-ngo-cua-u23-viet-nam-185251004153934983.htm