Vietnam U23 vs South Korea U23 Prediction: Rising from the Defeat

Stand up and fight!

Having won all four matches from the group stage to the quarter-finals, Vietnam U23's 0-3 defeat to China U23 in the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship was a real shock. This defeat not only shattered coach Kim Sang Sik 's dream of achieving a miracle, but also subjected them to immense pressure from public opinion, lowered their morale, and resulted in significant personnel losses.

But that's football; when the opponent is stronger, plays better, and wins, the Vietnam U23 team has to learn to accept it. In fact, this well-deserved defeat also helps the young players understand where they stand and that they need to work harder to reach the level of top teams in the continent.

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Vietnam U23 did not play well in the match against China U23. Photo: AFC

Where you stumble, you get back up. Now is the time for coach Kim Sang Sik and his team to quickly forget the loss to China U23 and focus on another very important match: the third-place playoff against South Korea U23.

The mentality and fighting spirit are what coach Kim Sang Sik demands his players demonstrate at their best. Although the Vietnam U23 team suffered a heavy defeat against China U23, the task ahead is still immense. The important thing is that the players must not give up, but play until the very last minute so they can leave with their heads held high.

The match against South Korea U23 is a test of the maturity and character of the Vietnam U23 team. This is also an opportunity for Dinh Bac and his teammates to prove themselves through actions and results, rather than just apologies.

Determined to create a surprise

On balance, the South Korean U23 team is clearly rated much higher than the Vietnamese U23 team in terms of skill, stature, and physical fitness. However, this team also has quite a few problems in this year's tournament, which means they have to compete for third place with the Vietnamese U23 team.

It's the South Korean team's inability to capitalize on opportunities, or more specifically, their finishing. After 5 matches, the South Korean U23 team has only scored 6 goals, while their defense has conceded 6. Of course, the South Korean U23 team has faced many strong opponents, but they have played ineffectively and inconsistently.

Besides exploiting the opponent's weaknesses, the Vietnam U23 team must maximize their own strengths. This is a match where coach Kim Sang Sik clearly defined the playing style from the start: defensive counter-attack.

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Vietnam U23 fought with all their might in their farewell match of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. Photo: AFC

Facing U23 South Korea, the U23 Vietnam defense is under immense pressure as their opponent is considered much stronger and they desperately need a win to avoid going home empty-handed. Coach Kim Sang Sik is most worried about the central defender position, with two key players, Hieu Minh and Ly Duc, absent. U23 Vietnam needs more options for covering and intercepting from afar.

Besides focusing on defense, the Vietnam U23 team also needs to be bold in attack with the mobility of players like Le Phat or Dinh Bac, requiring many precise passes from midfielders, the ability to switch between attacking and defensive phases, maintaining team shape, and sustaining physical fitness...

By excelling in all of the above areas, coupled with the highest fighting spirit, the Vietnam U23 team has every hope of creating an upset against the South Korea U23 team.

The third-place match between Vietnam U23 and South Korea U23 will take place at 10 PM on January 23rd.

Predicted lineup:

Vietnam U23 team: Trung Kien, Duc Anh, Nhat Minh, Van Ha, Viktor Le, Van Khang, Thai Son, Xuan Bac, Minh Phuc, Ngoc My, Le Phat
South Korea U23: Hong Seong Min, Kang Min Jun, Bae Hyun Seo, Lee Hyun Yong, Lee Geon Hee, Kang Seong Jin, Kim Dong Jin, Kim Yong Hak, Shin Min Ha, Baek Ga On, Jang Seok Hwan