Vietnam U23 team affirms new position in Asia.

The Vietnam U23 team is showing a different image at this year's AFC U23 Asian Championship. Photo: AFC

At the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam U23 team once again created historical moments. The "Golden Star Warriors" made the entire continent bow in admiration by winning all four matches and proudly advancing to the semi-finals.

Modern gameplay and an unwavering spirit.

The success of the Vietnam U23 team did not come from luck. It was the result of a modern, flexible tactical system under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik.

The tactical formation, which shifted from 5-2-3 in defense to 3-4-3 in attack, consistently disrupted formidable opponents such as U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan, U23 Saudi Arabia, and U23 UAE.

The biggest difference in this generation of players lies in their consistent technical skills and excellent physical fitness. The image of the Vietnamese players maintaining their attacking and defensive intensity during extra time in the quarter-final match, while the West Asian team showed clear signs of fatigue, demonstrates the significant progress in their preparation.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has significantly improved the fighting spirit of the Vietnam U23 team. Photo: AFC

Coach Kim Sang-sik has significantly improved the physical fitness of the Vietnam U23 team. Photo: AFC

Most importantly, it's about the mindset. The Vietnam U23 team no longer takes to the field with the thought of learning, but enters the match as warriors ready to face any "big team" head-on. The "Golden Star Warriors" want to think about the title instead of just aiming for experience.

Generational continuity

The current success of the Vietnam U23 team bears the strong imprint of a long-term development process. Key players like Khuat Van Khang, Dinh Bac, and Thai Son have all matured through various youth national team levels, under the guidance of former coach Philippe Troussier.

The philosophy of giving young players opportunities to play, instead of just having them sit on the bench at their clubs, has fostered a generation of fearless and resilient individuals.

The combination of that foundation and the sharp tactical thinking of coach Kim Sang-sik has created the most well-rounded Vietnam U23 team ever.

Semi-final: Vietnam U23 vs China U23

This year's semi-finals feature two highly anticipated matchups, representing different schools of football from across the continent.

In particular, the semi-final match between Vietnam U23 and China U23 is attracting special attention. China advanced deep into the tournament thanks to their pragmatic playing style, readily setting up a "double-decker bus" in front of their goal, waiting for opponents' mistakes or taking the match to a penalty shootout.

However, with a U23 Vietnam team that prefers ball control, small-group passing, and constant incursions through the center, a defensive, "parking the bus" style of play could easily become a double-edged sword.

Dinh Bac is having a fantastic tournament in Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP

The mobility, ability to switch positions, and intelligent decision-making of the players in red could easily force the Chinese defense into making mistakes.

This is not just a match for a place in the final, but also a clash between modern, highly organized football and classic counter-attacking football – where character and creativity will play a decisive role.

The match between Vietnam U23 and China U23 will take place at 10:30 PM on January 20th.