Still needs improvement.

The Vietnam U23 football team is participating in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals. According to AFC data, the average height of the Vietnam U23 team in this tournament is 176.7cm, the lowest in Group A (comprising Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam), although it has increased compared to the average height of the Vietnam U23 team two years ago (173cm).

Vietnamese players have significantly improved their physique and fitness, both at the youth and senior national team levels. Gone are the days when the national team consisted of many key players who were "short and lightweight," like Vu Minh Hieu, Van Sy Hung, Nguyen Hong Son, Nguyen Thanh Luong, etc. Now, Vietnamese national teams often have players taller than 180cm, especially center-backs and goalkeepers (such as goalkeeper Trung Kien of the current Vietnam U23 team, who is 191cm tall). With increased height and improved fitness, Vietnamese players no longer fear opponents in Southeast Asia who were once superior in this aspect, such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Despite significant improvements, Vietnamese players still lag behind their opponents in terms of physique and fitness when competing in Asian tournaments. At the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, Vietnam ranked 15th out of 16 participating teams in height and was last in weight (average 69.8kg). At the 2023 Asian Cup, the Vietnamese national team also ranked last in both height and weight. This gap is considerable, especially when compared to top teams in the continent such as Iran, Iraq, or Japan. Also at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, the average height of the Iranian team was over 182cm, and Japan's was over 180cm. The Jordanian U23 team – Vietnam's opponent in Group A in the first match on January 6th – also had an average height of over 180cm.

Modern football demands players to possess high levels of stature and physical fitness. In important matches, players not only need to handle the ball well but also play effectively off the ball, constantly moving to mark opponents and create favorable opportunities for teammates. In addition, they need the ability to capitalize on set pieces and effectively defend against opposing corner kicks. Overall, all these requirements highlight the necessity of a team with a strong physical foundation and fitness. Therefore, Vietnamese football still needs generations of players with even greater stature and physical prowess.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/van-can-duoc-cai-thien-729604.html