U23 Vietnam holds an unexpected advantage at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

U23 Vietnam has a favorable match schedule in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, with their opponents under coach Kim Sang Sik increasing in difficulty with each game.

On the afternoon of October 2 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the AFC conducted the draw for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, setting the path for the 16 participating teams. According to the results, U23 Vietnam was placed in Group A alongside host Saudi Arabia – the 2022 champions, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan – making their debut at the finals. This group is considered highly competitive, but the match schedule is relatively favorable as opponents face them in ascending order of difficulty.

According to the schedule, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team will kick off against Jordan on January 7, 2026 – a strong team that hosted the qualifiers and topped their group. Then, on January 10, U23 Vietnam will face Kyrgyzstan – a newcomer who impressed by defeating teams like Uzbekistan and reaching the qualifier final.

The first two matches will allow the players to gain experience and adapt tactically before the final game on January 13 against host Saudi Arabia, the strongest team in the group with home advantage. This match is seen as an early “final” that will determine U23 Vietnam’s chances of advancing.

This marks the sixth consecutive time U23 Vietnam has qualified for the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, after winning Group C in the qualifiers with three straight victories over Bangladesh, Singapore, and Yemen. To prepare thoroughly, the team will gather from October 4 in Hanoi under the leadership of acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh.

Afterward, the team will travel to the UAE for training with two important friendly matches against U23 Qatar on October 9 and 13, aiming to finalize the squad, refine tactics, and build cohesion for key upcoming goals, including the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

With the schedule arranged from less to more challenging opponents, U23 Vietnam has the opportunity to prepare mentally, tactically, and physically for the decisive match against host Saudi Arabia, opening a chance to compete for a spot in the knockout stage.