VFF selects experienced U23 squad for 2026 Asian Games

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) today officially announced plans to send an experienced U23 squad to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Instead of the originally planned U21 team, the VFF decided to use a U23 squad with a core of players who won bronze medals at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. According to head coach Dinh Hong Vinh, the squad includes 13 players who competed together at the U23 Asian Cup, creating cohesion and international experience. Most of these players have professional minutes in the V.League or First Division, enabling rapid tactical adaptation. "We want to send a competitive squad that can achieve results while building momentum for the 2027 SEA Games," a VFF official said. Vietnam U23 are drawn in Group C alongside Uzbekistan, Kuwait, and the Philippines. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Compared to the 2026 Asian Games generation that reached the semifinals, experts believe the 2026 squad has an edge in stability and playing depth. However, challenges from Uzbekistan and Kuwait remain significant. The team will begin preparations in mid-2026 with international friendlies. This is the first time the VFF has shifted from a U21 to a U23 plan for an Asian Games, signaling ambition to compete evenly with Asia's top football nations.