Coach Kim Sang-sik reveals Vietnam football’s World Cup plans

After a remarkable run at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, Coach Kim Sang-sik offered significant comments regarding the future vision for Vietnam’s football.

On the morning of January 26, immediately after U23 Vietnam concluded the continental tournament ranked in the Top 3, Coach Kim Sang-sik held an online discussion with Football Magazine at the VFF headquarters. At the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, U23 Vietnam exceeded their initial goal of passing the group stage, reaching the top three teams in Asia for the first time since 2018.

Under Coach Kim Sang-sik’s leadership, U23 Vietnam displayed a disciplined, stable, and resilient team image. Reflecting on this memorable journey, Coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed: “The players always competed with a never-give-up spirit. It is precisely this attitude that brought about this achievement. I am very proud that they caused great difficulties for their opponents.”

The success at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship continues the impressive streak of the Korean coach with Vietnam’s youth teams. Previously, he led U22 Vietnam to win the gold medal at SEA Games 33, building strong trust among fans. However, for Coach Kim Sang-sik, these achievements are just stepping stones towards a bigger goal.

Regarding his future vision, the Korean coach emphasized: “Soon, I will collaborate with VFF to develop long-term plans aimed at helping Vietnam reach the World Cup. The experience gained from Asian tournaments will help the players grow. I also hope some players get opportunities to play abroad to lay the foundation for more ambitious goals.”

Analyzing U23 Vietnam’s playing style in the recent tournament, Coach Kim Sang-sik noted that the team faced many strong opponents like Jordan and South Korea. He added: “Nevertheless, our players never backed down, always united and fought together. I understand U23 Vietnam’s physical strength is not the strongest, so we focused heavily on tactics and organizing the team to move as a cohesive unit.”

The coach born in 1976 also particularly highlighted the role of the defensive system and set-piece situations in the team’s overall success. “Although not physically dominant, the players pressed and marked very well against taller opponents. When one opponent bypassed a player, others provided effective cover. That was a key factor in the team’s success.”

After 8 years since the historic achievement in Thường Châu 2018, U23 Vietnam has once again made a strong impression on the continental stage. He stated: “In this tournament, U23 Vietnam did not have a standout individual, but everyone united to form a strong collective. I have high hopes that this generation will mature further after SEA Games and the AFC U23 Championship, gaining enough confidence to contribute to the national team in the future.”

Concluding the interview, Coach Kim Sang-sik sent Lunar New Year wishes to Vietnamese fans and emphasized that the support from the audience has been a major motivation driving the players’ outstanding performance throughout the journey.