U23 Vietnam competes with Qatar, says goodbye to 2 important players

(Dan Tri) - Preparing for the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, U23 Vietnam has two highly anticipated friendly matches with Qatar during a training trip in the UAE.

After 2 days of training in Hanoi , U23 Vietnam left for UAE for training. Regarding the force, the team had two changes compared to the original list due to injuries.

Midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien suffered a thigh muscle strain, while striker Nguyen Ngoc My suffered a right adductor injury. Both were forced to stay in the country for treatment and recovery. The coaching staff has called up Le Dinh Long Vu (SL Nghe An Club) and Nguyen Le Phat (Ninh Binh Club) to replace them.

U23 Vietnam departs for training in UAE (Photo: VFF).

It is a pity that Xuan Tien and Ngoc My have to part ways, as both are highly regarded for their expertise. Xuan Tien was the one who just scored the goal that brought a 1-1 draw for The Cong Viettel against Ninh Binh, in round 6 of V-League 2025-2026.

Acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh said: “Vietnam U23 is still on track towards the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals. In the immediate future, the team will have different training periods to test and perfect its squad.

For this October training session, head coach Kim Sang Sik discussed very specifically about technical skills. The team needs to focus on passing ability, maintaining reasonable team distance and creating space behind the defense line.

During their training in the UAE, U23 Vietnam will play two international friendly matches with U23 Qatar, taking place on October 9 and 13. According to coach Dinh Hong Vinh, this is a valuable opportunity for the team to test and evaluate their strength.

U23 Vietnam prepares best for SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asia finals (Photo: VFF).

“Meeting high-level opponents like U23 Qatar is very useful. These two matches will help the coaching board better assess potential, adaptability and identify more quality players to report to head coach Kim Sang Sik, thereby preparing well for the next training sessions,” said Mr. Vinh.

For his part, midfielder Nguyen Van Truong expressed his determination to have a successful training trip with his teammates: "Recently, the VFF has created conditions for U23 Vietnam to participate in many quality international tournaments and training trips.

The whole team is making the best preparations for the two important upcoming goals: SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals. We are trying our best to not disappoint the fans' expectations."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/u23-viet-nam-do-suc-voi-qatar-chia-tay-2-cau-thu-quan-trong-20251007105634536.htm