"Fire tests gold" for young players.

The success of the Vietnam U23 team at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship has raised many expectations for the next generation of young Vietnamese players. However, upon returning to domestic competition, many players who shone at the youth level are facing the harsh reality of the 2025-2026 Vietnam Professional Football League (V-League). Their path to establishing themselves in top-level football remains fraught with challenges.

Striker Dinh Bac (in red shirt) has yet to make the same impact in this season's V-League as he did at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Photo: VPF

The harsh realities of the V-League.

Unlike youth leagues, including continental youth championships, where players can showcase their skills and confidence in a less stressful environment, the V-League demands competitive spirit, match experience, and consistency throughout a long season. This means that many U23 Vietnamese players, despite having made a name for themselves on the continental stage, still face a difficult adaptation period.

The case of PVF - People's Police is a prime example. The police team is going through a challenging season with a squad largely composed of young players, including many who competed in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship such as Thanh Nhàn, Xuân Bắc, Lý Đức... From round 11, former coach Nguyễn Thành Công was appointed with the task of helping the team remain in the top tier of Vietnamese football. After 4 matches under former coach Nguyễn Thành Công, PVF - People's Police has only won 1 match and lost 3, falling to the bottom of the standings and facing immense pressure in the relegation battle.

If PVF - People's Police is a story of collective effort, then Nguyen Dinh Bac is a prime example of the individual challenges faced by young players when stepping onto the highest level of competition. After the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, the striker born in 2004 was mentioned as one of the brightest talents in Vietnamese football. However, upon returning to the V-League, the young striker of Hanoi Police faced many difficulties. After the match against Hanoi FC in round 15, Dinh Bac has not scored a goal in the V-League for 13 consecutive matches, equivalent to 1,004 minutes of playing time. The dribbling, acceleration, and technical skills that once helped him create breakthroughs in youth leagues are no longer easily effective against experienced defenders in the V-League. Compared to his seniors like Quang Hai or Tien Linh, who quickly made a name for themselves in the V-League at a very young age, Dinh Bac's path clearly still has many obstacles.

Not only Dinh Bac and some players from PVF - People's Police, but many other U23 Vietnam players who participated in the 2026 Asian Championship are also facing immense pressure at their clubs. Among them, Duc Anh and Phi Hoang ofSHB Da Nang; goalkeeper Van Binh of Song Lam Nghe An, Trung Kien of Hoang Anh Gia Lai... are all playing while their teams are struggling at the bottom of the table. Thus, the number of U23 Vietnam players at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship facing the risk of relegation is not small. Even center-back Le Van Ha, a member of the U23 Vietnam team at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, had to leave Hanoi FC to play for Bac Ninh FC in the First Division. In addition, there is the case of midfielder Thai Son (Ninh Binh FC) who tore a ligament upon returning to play in the V-League. All of this highlights the harshness and countless challenges on the career path of the Vietnamese U23 players after a relatively impressive journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

The important thing is how to overcome the differences.

According to football expert Phan Anh Tú, it's not surprising that the U23 Vietnam players who competed in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship continue to struggle in domestic competitions, given the differences between youth leagues and the professional football environment.

Mr. Phan Anh Tu commented: “Success at the U23 level is very encouraging, but the V-League is a completely different environment. Here, players have to face experienced opponents with good physical fitness and a very high ability to read the game. If they lack the courage and perseverance, young players can easily stagnate.” However, expert Phan Anh Tu also believes that the current difficulties will be an important test for the maturity of young players. “Difficult periods such as the relegation battle or the pressure of competing for positions are good environments for players to hone their character. If they overcome them, they will mature very quickly. Many stars of Vietnamese football in the past also rose from similar circumstances,” Mr. Phan Anh Tu analyzed.

The reality of the V-League shows that success in continental or Southeast Asian youth tournaments is only the beginning of a long journey ahead. The professional football environment is always harsh, where players must compete for every position and face immense pressure to perform.

For the current generation of Vietnam U23s, competing in a context where many teams are battling relegation or fiercely competing for players can be a major challenge. But these experiences also serve as a "test of fire" to hone their character and accumulate experience. Only by overcoming pressure and maintaining professionalism in training and competition can they elevate themselves, contributing more to their clubs and the national team when the opportunity arises.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lua-thu-vang-cho-cac-cau-thu-tre-738412.html