2026 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers: After defeating Bangladesh 2-0, Vietnam U23 confidently advances

The 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers feature 44 teams divided into 11 groups, playing in a single round-robin format. The 11 group winners and the 4 best runners-up will join host Saudi Arabia in the final tournament. In Group C, Vietnam U23 is considered the favorite to top the group, with opponents including Bangladesh U23, Singapore U23, and Yemen U23.

Playing on home soil, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team enjoys several advantages. The Vietnam U23 squad includes outstanding young talents who previously helped the team win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.

Players such as Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Dinh Bac, and goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien have experience competing in the V-League and have represented the national team. This foundation allows the coaching staff to aim for first place in the group, securing direct qualification to the final tournament.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh U23 is rated the lowest in the group. The South Asian team mainly consists of young players with limited international experience, despite the addition of naturalized striker Mitchell — a midfielder born in 2005 with English, Jamaican, and Bangladeshi heritage. However, Bangladesh’s preparation has been underwhelming, having lost both friendly matches against Bahrain U23 before arriving in Vietnam.

From the start of the match, Vietnam U23 pushed forward aggressively, applying continuous pressure on the opponent’s goal. Several chances came from shots by Hieu Minh, Van Truong, Ly Duc, and Thanh Nhan, but none were on target.

In the 15th minute, the deadlock was broken. From a clever pass by Dinh Bac, Ngoc My sprinted forward, adjusted his position, and fired a decisive shot to open the scoring at 1-0 for Vietnam U23.

After the goal, the home team maintained control of the game. Ngoc My made another dangerous run down the left flank, and Phi Hoang struck a long-range shot that hit the post, but the score remained unchanged. In defense, goalkeeper Trung Kien had a few uncertain moments but managed to keep the situation under control. The first half ended with Vietnam U23 leading Bangladesh U23 1-0.

In the second half, Vietnam U23 continued to dominate the match. On the wings, Thanh Nhan and Ngoc My remained key outlets in fast-paced plays. Ngoc My impressed with his dribbling skills, while Thanh Nhan frequently exploited spaces behind the opposing defense.

In the 56th minute, coach Kim Sang-sik made a complete change to the forward line by bringing on Nguyen Quoc Viet, Le Viktor, and Khuat Van Khang. This substitution diversified Vietnam U23’s attacking style and increased offensive pressure. Xuan Bac had several shooting opportunities but failed to score, while Viktor continuously threatened the opponent’s goal with three dangerous shots, including one that hit the crossbar.

The home team’s efforts were rewarded in the 83rd minute. From an accurate pass by Ly Duc, Viktor surged forward and scored a close-range header, extending Vietnam U23’s lead to 2-0. In the remaining minutes, the hosts maintained full control, with goalkeeper Trung Kien playing confidently to neutralize Bangladesh U23’s rare counterattacks.

At the final whistle, Vietnam U23 secured a 2-0 victory, marking a successful start in Group C of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers at Viet Tri, Phu Tho.

According to the schedule, at 4 p.m. on September 6th, the second matchday will continue with Bangladesh facing Yemen. Vietnam U23 will play against Singapore U23 at 7 p.m. on the same day.