HOT: U23 Vietnam may replace Iran in important tournament

U23 Vietnam is a leading contender to take the place of U23 Iran in the friendly competition hosted by the Chinese Football Association.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is reportedly considering inviting U23 Vietnam to participate in the CFA Team China U23 2026 friendly tournament, as U23 Iran is highly likely to withdraw from the event. This information was published by China's 163 website on the morning of March 4th under the headline: "Breaking News! Change in Xi'an Four Nations Tournament: U23 Iran confirms absence, U23 Vietnam invited as replacement."

According to the source, U23 Iran's withdrawal stems from objective reasons. Given this situation, the organizers activated a contingency plan, and U23 Vietnam has become the name considered for replacement, aiming to ensure the tournament maintains both its professional quality and the number of participating teams.

Previously, the CFA announced the CFA Team China U23 2026 tournament would take place in Xi'an from March 25th with the participation of four teams: host China, Iran, North Korea, and Thailand. According to the initial schedule, U23 Iran was set to face North Korea (March 25th), Thailand (March 28th), and China (March 31st). However, if Iran officially withdraws, U23 Vietnam will be the replacement candidate.

The 163 website praised the capabilities of the Vietnamese youth team, stating it would be a formidable opponent for host China. According to their assessment: "U23 Vietnam players are very agile, flexible, good at passing and ball control, with flexible movement on the wings and a high-speed playing style."

The article also suggested that facing U23 Vietnam would provide professional value for Coach Antonio's staff. "The opponents at the Asian Games are primarily technical players from Southeast Asia, and competing against Vietnam from the start is equivalent to targeted practice on breaking down dense defenses, contesting the wings, and controlling the match tempo."

If they accept the invitation, U23 Vietnam might not field their strongest squad, as Coach Kim Sang-sik is focused on the national team preparing for the match against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Nevertheless, the tournament in China is still seen as a useful opportunity for exposure, helping the U23 team gain experience before aiming for ASIAD 2026, which takes place in Japan in September.

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