U23 Vietnam still received a trophy despite finishing bottom of the table in China tournament.

U23 Vietnam concluded their journey at the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament in bottom position, yet still received a commemorative trophy, an interesting detail that caught fans' attention.

In the final match on March 31st, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh's team faced host nation U23 China. Despite playing hard and starting confidently, U23 Vietnam still suffered a 0-1 defeat after Du Yuezheng's long-range shot in the 39th minute..

In this match, the coaching staff continued to rotate strongly with 6 changes in the starting lineup to give opportunities to many young players. Despite creating some notable chances, U23 Vietnam's attack could not capitalize, while goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình was a highlight with several crucial saves.

In the second half, the red-shirted team pushed higher to seek an equalizer, but lack of precision in finishing prevented them from changing the situation. Ultimately, U23 Vietnam accepted a minimal defeat and ended the tournament with many technical lessons..

Previously, U23 Vietnam drew 1-1 with U23 North Korea in the opening match, before successively losing to U23 Thailand and U23 China both 0-1. With this record, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh's team ranked fourth overall, with Nguyễn Minh Tâm being the only player to score for the team.

Despite being bottom of the table, U23 Vietnam still received a commemorative trophy from the organizers, which all participating teams were given. This is considered an interesting highlight of this year's tournament, as even third-placed U23 Thailand also received a trophy to acknowledge their participation.

After the tournament ended, the whole team returned home on April 1st, splitting into two groups landing in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Immediately after, the coaching staff decided to let the players break camp, concluding the March 2026 training period. The players quickly returned to their parent clubs to continue competing in domestic leagues.

Although the results were not as expected, the tournament in Xi'an held important professional significance. With a squad mainly consisting of players born from 2005 onward, this was the first time many young faces played together at U23 level. The coaching staff utilized the opportunity to experiment with formations, evaluate capabilities, and enhance cohesion.

Looking toward long-term goals like ASIAD 2026 and SEA Games 2027, the journey of this young generation still lies ahead. The experiences at CFA Team China 2026 are seen as an important stepping stone for U23 Vietnam to improve and mature further in the future.