'The Young King' of Vietnam U23 stuns with a goal against Qatar

Vietnam U23 suffered a close 2-3 defeat to Qatar U23 in a friendly held in the UAE, yet “The Young King” Nguyễn Quốc Việt managed to stand out with an impressive long-distance strike.

In their second friendly during the UAE training camp, Vietnam U23 showed great effort against the strong Qatar U23 team. Although they lost narrowly 2-3, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh’s squad left positive signs, especially with goals from Văn Thuận and Nguyễn Quốc Việt – the player known as Vietnam football’s “Young King.”

In this match, the coaching staff continued giving opportunities to young players who had limited playing time before. Vietnam U23 started poorly, falling behind 0-2 within 20 minutes. However, their resilient spirit helped regain control, and Văn Thuận’s goal at the 24th minute to reduce the deficit to 1-2 brought hope going into the second half.

In the second half, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh introduced key players such as Văn Trường, Lý Đức, Quốc Việt, Anh Quân, and Lê Viktor, improving the team’s performance. At the 68th minute, Nguyễn Quốc Việt scored a stunning long-range goal to equalize 2-2 for Vietnam U23, marking his first goal under coach Kim Sang Sik after seven matches without scoring. This goal not only showcased his striking instinct but also boosted the young forward’s morale.

Born in 2003 in Hải Phòng, Nguyễn Quốc Việt developed at the Nutifood JMG Academy and previously played for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai youth teams before moving to Phù Đổng Ninh Bình in V.League 2. Known for his energetic style, good positioning, and finishing skills, he is considered one of Vietnam’s most promising young talents.

The nickname “Young King” is associated with Quốc Việt because of his remarkable record of winning the top scorer award three times at the national U17, U19, and U21 levels, along with multiple best player honors. Internationally, he has represented Vietnam in U19, U20, and U23 teams, competing in the SEA Games, Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the AFC U20 Championship finals.

Despite losing 2-3 after conceding in the 78th minute, Vietnam U23 demonstrated disciplined spirit, improved gameplay, and good adaptability. The UAE training camp ended on a positive note, especially with impressive performances from Quốc Việt and Văn Thuận ahead of SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.