According to the seeding principles of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), 15 teams (except host Saudi Arabia) are divided into 4 groups based on their performance in the last 3 finals, with corresponding scoring coefficients: 100% for the 2024 tournament, 50% for the 2022 tournament and 25% for the 2020 tournament. By reaching the quarterfinals in 2022 (ranked 7/16 teams) and 2024 (ranked 6/16 teams), in addition to 2020 (stopped in the group stage, ranked 13/16 teams), U23 Vietnam is ranked in the second seed group with ranked 6/16 teams at the 2026 finals, in the same group as Korea (ranked 5), Australia (7), Qatar (8).
Meanwhile, group 1 includes: Saudi Arabia (host), Uzbekistan (1), Japan (2), Iraq (3); group 3 includes Thailand (9), Jordan (10), UAE (11), Iran (12); group 4 includes China (13), Syria (14), Kyrgyzstan (15), Lebanon (16). Being in group 2 helps U23 Vietnam avoid strong opponents in this group, but the lucky draw can still put the team in a difficult group. Looking at the seed groups, U23 Vietnam can completely fall into a difficult but very interesting group with the defending champion Japan, Thailand and China. The team can also fall into a group with West Asian teams along with the host Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria, or it can be in the same group with the current runner-up Uzbekistan, Jordan and Kyrgyzstan...
The 2026 AFC U23 Championship brings together all the young teams from the continent's leading football development, so it is predicted that there will be great competition. Therefore, whichever group Vietnam U23 falls into will bring great challenges, requiring coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to be well-prepared in all aspects and ready to face difficulties. In the sixth consecutive time participating in the AFC U23 Championship, facing challenges also means opportunities for young players.
This is a tournament that brings together 16 of the strongest teams in the continent, where each match is a tough challenge, and at the same time is an ideal "stage" for young talents to shine and mature. Being able to compete with opponents who are superior in technique, physical strength and experience will help young players learn a lot, from the ability to read situations, pressure handling skills to adapting to tactical play. These lessons have long-term value, helping them not only improve at the U23 level but also be ready to play for the national team in the future.
In addition, the attention of fans and the media will also create positive pressure, forcing young players to mature faster, maintaining professionalism in life and competition. This is an important stepping stone to form a generation of brave players, ready to shoulder the responsibility of taking Vietnamese football further in the continental and world arenas.
The image of U23 Vietnam entering the final with the victory in Changzhou (China) in 2018 or reaching the quarter-finals in 2022 and 2024 will be a strong source of inspiration for young players. The current generation of U23 Vietnam players, after going through regional tournaments and qualifying rounds, has proven their steadfast competitive spirit, especially their team spirit. The championship of the U23 Southeast Asia 2025 and passing the qualifying round of the U23 Asia 2026 along with the all-win record, has partly proven the quality of the squad and the strength of Dinh Bac and his teammates.
The biggest support of U23 Vietnam is the disciplined playing style and the ability to organize a solid defense. Maintaining the team's distance, taking advantage of quick counterattacks and exploiting set pieces have become powerful weapons that have helped the team achieve positive results in the last two tournaments. In addition, the maturity of many young faces playing in the V.League and the experience of players who have played for the national team have helped coach Kim Sangsik have more diverse tactical options, as well as the basis for building a solid framework for the 2026 U23 Asian Cup and before that, the 33rd SEA Games.
The journey of U23 Vietnam at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship will certainly be full of thorns. Although the opportunity to advance far is not easy, but if they know how to maximize their fighting spirit, take full advantage of their strengths and have careful preparation, U23 Vietnam can completely create surprises, just like their seniors Quang Hai and Cong Phuong did in Changzhou years ago.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/san-sang-cho-thu-thach-171597.html
Comment (0)