The numbers that will shape the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship final.

VHO - Ahead of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship final between U23 Japan and U23 China, statistics reveal a stark contrast: one side excels in experience, attacking prowess, and championship mentality, while the other impresses with its disciplined defense.

The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship final between Japan U23 and China U23 will take place at 10 PM today (January 24th). This marks China U23's first appearance in the final, while Japan U23 has the opportunity to defend their title and set a new historical milestone.

In terms of head-to-head encounters, the two teams have only met once, at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Championship in the group stage. On that occasion, Japan U23 won 1-0. Therefore, tonight's final is both an opportunity for China U23 to "avenge" their previous defeat and a chance for Japan to reaffirm its position as the number one youth football team in Asia.

The match between Japan U23 and China U23 will take place at 10 PM today, January 24th.

China's U23 team enters this match with an emotional journey. In this year's tournament, they have already secured two wins – equaling their total wins from their five previous appearances combined. However, the team has never won two consecutive matches in the history of the tournament.

China's U23 team's greatest strength lies in its defense. They have kept five consecutive clean sheets, a rare achievement in the tournament's history. Previously, only Saudi Arabia's U23 team had accomplished this in the 2022 tournament – ​​the year they won the championship undefeated.

Playing a key role in this impressive run of matches is goalkeeper Li Hao. The Chinese U23 custodian boasts a remarkable statistic: a 100% save rate. In the last four U23 Asian Championships, no goalkeeper has achieved this perfect rate while facing at least 10 shots on target.

However, the Chinese U23 team's attack is a weakness. After 5 matches, they have only scored 4 goals, including 3 against Vietnam in the semi-finals. Their tight, disciplined defense and ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes have helped them progress deep into the tournament, but their attacking prowess remains unconvincing.

Conversely, the Japanese U23 team showed the image of a true championship contender. The team from the Land of the Rising Sun scored 12 goals in the tournament, only slightly short of the record of 15 goals set in 2016. This also marks the fourth time Japan has scored 10 or more goals in an Asian U23 Championship.

After winning all their group stage matches, the Japanese U23 team successively defeated Jordan U23 and South Korea U23 to reach the final. In 5 matches, they scored 13 goals and conceded only 1, demonstrating a near-perfect balance between attack and defense.

On an individual level, striker Ryunosuke Sato is currently the player with the most direct contributions in the tournament with 5 goal contributions, including 3 goals and 2 assists. This is the highest in the tournament and only slightly less than the record of 6 contributions held by Ali Jasim (Iraq) at the 2024 AFC U23 Championship.

With two championships in 2016 and 2014, the Japanese U23 team is on the verge of winning the U23 Asian Championship for the third time. Under the guidance of coach Go Oiwa, the "Blue Samurai" possess a well-balanced squad, a modern playing style, and a proven track record in big matches.

Overall, the Japanese U23 team is superior in terms of form and experience. The Chinese U23 team may pose a challenge with their disciplined defense, but stopping the all-out strength of the defending champions in this historic final will be an extremely difficult task.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/nhung-con-so-dinh-hinh-tran-chung-ket-u23-chau-a-2026-199922.html