Vietnam's 2026 U23 Asian Cup squad more fearsome than nation's 2018 runners-up: Indonesian media

After a 3-2 victory over the UAE in the quarterfinals of the 2026 cup, Vietnam advanced to the semifinals for the second time ever, following their historic run in 2018 under coach Park Hang-seo.

A number of major Indonesian newspapers said the Vietnam team under coach Kim Sang-sik are "more fearsome," "more consistent" and "more well-rounded" than their 2018 edition.

Striker Nguyen Ngoc My (No. 19) during the U23 Asian Cup quarterfinal against the UAE in Saudi Arabia, Jan. 16, 2026. Photo courtesy of AFC

Based on the number of matches won within 120 minutes, excluding penalty shootouts, CNN Indonesia said the 2018 team reached the final but recorded only one win if penalty shootouts were excluded.

Much of that journey was built on draws, shootout victories and defensive play. In that final, Vietnam lost 1-2 to Uzbekistan after extra time.

By contrast, the 2026 team under Kim won four consecutive matches. All three group-stage victories were secured within 90 minutes, allowing the team to top the group. In the quarterfinals, Vietnam beat the UAE in extra time, showcasing the team’s sustained intensity and stamina.

CNN commented that the four victories reflected dominant strength, in contrast to the 2018 team’s resilience and reliance on luck.

Assessing the current team’s performances over a longer period, Mureks pointed out their record streak of 15 consecutive wins excluding friendlies, giving them a 100% win rate in official matches.

The previous longest streak for the Vietnam U23 team was eight matches, achieved in 2019 across the U22 AFF Championship and the 30th SEA Games.

The latest record streak ran from the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship and U23 Asian Cup qualifiers to the 33rd SEA Games and the ongoing U23 Asian Cup.

This is seen as evidence that Vietnam’s U23 team can maintain a high level of performance across several successive tournaments, rather than just over a short spell.

Both CNN and Mureks highlighted the difference in talent. In 2018, Vietnam’s U23 team were closely associated with several standout individuals like Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Luong Xuan Truong and goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung. Park used the same starting team even in the quarterfinal against Iraq and the semifinal against Qatar.

Across six matches at that tournament, six players did not play in any game, namely reserve goalkeepers Nguyen Van Hoang and Dang Ngoc Tuan, defenders Le Van Dai and Nguyen Trong Dai, and midfielders Truong Van Thai Quy and Chau Ngoc Quang.

At the time, teams were limited to a maximum of three substitutions per match and Park also had less time to work with his players than Kim does with the current squad.

Vietnamese players celebrating a goal by Nguyen Quang Hai in the final of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China, Jan. 27, 2018. Photo by AFP

This year, Vietnam’s U23 team have been built with a much clearer emphasis on collective strength. From the group stage, Kim deployed almost every player except for two reserve goalkeepers, Cao Van Binh and Pham Dinh Hai.

With up to five substitutions allowed per match at this tournament, reserve players have had far more opportunities to feature. Players such as Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Dinh Bac and Khuat Van Khang represent a balanced and energetic squad.

Aside from the goalkeeper, three center backs and two central midfielders, Kim has regularly rotated his fullbacks and front three.

Attacking players like Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Le Phat, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Le Viktor, Nguyen Ngoc My and Le Van Thuan have all been given clearly defined roles when called upon.

This difference has made the current Vietnam U23 team much harder to read. No single player is carrying the team and the entire squad functions smoothly as a whole.

Tribun News highlighted Kim's role, describing Vietnam's current success as "proof of the South Korean coach's magic," but noting that it was not a sudden miracle.

The newspaper noted that Kim took charge of the team after it showed signs of stagnation under coach Philippe Troussier.

Rather than overhauling everything, Kim retained core values such as discipline, organization and team spirit, then built on them by improving fitness, pace and ability to control matches.

Kim's simultaneous leadership of the senior national team, as well as the U23 and U22 teams, has allowed a unified playing philosophy to be applied consistently across all levels.

The Vietnam U23 team posing for a photo following their victory against the UAE at the U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 17, 2026. Photo courtesy of AFC

"Vietnam has found the formula for success in football. It lies in grassroots development and the calm leadership of a South Korean coach," wrote Bola, one of Indonesia’s leading sports outlets.

The outlet also noted that the team’s success was not dependent on naturalized or foreign-born players. The entire squad come from the domestic training system, which has been systematically organized and sustained over many years.

"This is like a slap in the face of Indonesian football," the paper wrote, referring to Indonesia’s heavy dependence on players developed overseas.

"This is different from 2018, when Vietnamese football was still in the process of completing its youth development system," it added. "It is this youth development foundation that allows the current U23 Vietnam team to maintain consistency and have the potential to go further in the future."

Vietnam operates a nationwide system of youth competitions across all age groups, allowing each player to play dozens of matches every year. By contrast, Thailand’s national U17 league has been suspended for many years without a clear solution.