U23 Vietnam finalizes opponents for the four-nation tournament in China

16/10/2025 10:14:00 FieldFrenzy

U23 Vietnam will take part in the four-nation friendly tournament in China during the FIFA Days in November, facing strong opponents including U23 Uzbekistan, U23 South Korea, and the host U23 China.

According to the latest information, the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the host organizer, has finalized the list of teams participating in the U23 four-nation tournament in November, as part of preparations for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

Specifically, the four teams competing in this high-quality tournament are U23 China (host), U23 Vietnam, U23 South Korea, and U23 Uzbekistan.

This is an excellent opportunity for U23 Vietnam players to gain experience against some of Asia’s top U23 national teams ahead of the continental competition.

The U23 Vietnam team had a valuable warm-up ahead of SEA Games 33. Photo: VFF

The U23 Vietnam squad completed their training camp and friendly matches in the UAE and returned home on October 15.

While in the UAE, U23 Vietnam played two matches against U23 Qatar, losing 0-1 and 2-3 respectively.

U23 Vietnam will regroup during the FIFA Days in November, coinciding with the senior national team’s preparation for the second leg of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Laos away on November 18.

The senior Vietnam team will temporarily disband after playing Laos and will only regroup in March 2026 for the home leg against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In contrast, the U23 Vietnam team will maintain continuous training from the FIFA Days in November through SEA Games 33, without disbanding like the senior team.

From this point forward, coach Kim Sang Sik will directly serve as head coach of the U23 Vietnam team, instead of delegating to assistant coach Đinh Hồng Vinh as was done in the recent training camp.

Coach Kim Sang Sik’s task is to lead the U23 Vietnam team to capture the gold medal in men’s football at SEA Games 33 in Thailand in December 2025.

In January 2026, he and his players will participate in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

In this tournament, U23 Vietnam is drawn in Group A alongside host Saudi Arabia—the reigning 2022 champions—Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan, which is making its first appearance in an AFC U23 Asian Cup final tournament.

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