Chinese media surprised as their team still ranks behind U23 Vietnam

Despite finishing second in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, U23 China is still placed behind U23 Vietnam when considering the overall rankings across all editions.

At the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, U23 China made history by reaching the final for the first time and securing the runner-up position. This remarkable run has raised hopes among Chinese football fans, who believe this young generation is opening the door to the 2028 Olympics. After years of ups and downs, this achievement is seen as a major morale boost for the entire football community.

However, Chinese media quickly tempered this excitement with reality. Baidu pointed out the paradox: despite beating U23 Vietnam 3-0 in the recent tournament, their cumulative ranking over multiple editions still falls short of their rivals. In the historical performance table, U23 China ranks only 14th, five places below the Southeast Asian team.

If both teams qualify for the 2028 U23 Asian Cup—which also serves as Olympic qualifiers—the advantage again favors Vietnam. According to seeding groups, U23 Vietnam is likely to be placed in the highest tier, while China may be assigned to the third tier. This implies they risk being drawn into a tough group from the start.

Baidu analyzes that consistency is the key factor behind U23 Vietnam's high point accumulation. They reached the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2024 consecutively, then surged forward to win bronze in 2026. This steady performance over three editions earned them enough points to break into the continent’s leading group.

In contrast, China has made things harder for themselves due to earlier slip-ups. In 2022, they withdrew and earned no points. In 2024, the team managed only one draw and two losses in the group stage, exiting early with just one point. As a result, despite the valuable runner-up finish in 2026, it cannot fully compensate for the previous gaps.

According to the Asian Football Confederation’s regulations, seedings are based on results from the last three editions weighted at 100%, 50%, and 25%. Therefore, the overall total determines the ranking. Estimates suggest U23 Vietnam could be grouped with Japan, Uzbekistan, and South Korea at the top tierwhile China would compete in a lower tier alongside UAE, Thailand, or Jordan—a significant difference that could impact their Olympic journey.