Vietnam U23 concludes its journey at CFA Team China 2026, gaining valuable experience for the young squad
On the evening of March 31, the Vietnam U23 national team entered their final match at the 2026 CFA Team China International Football Tournament in Xi’an against the hosts, China U23. Despite a spirited performance, the players under Interim Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat, concluding the tournament with many valuable technical lessons learned.
05/04/2026 12:20:03
In this match, the coaching staff continued to make significant personnel adjustments, with six changes to the starting lineup compared to the previous game. This move aimed to provide competitive opportunities for a wider range of young players while facilitating the evaluation and screening of the squad.
Vietnam U23 started confidently and created several early chances but failed to capitalize on them. Meanwhile, China U23 gradually ramped up the pressure and broke the deadlock in the 39th minute with a long-range strike from Du Yuezheng.
In the second half, Vietnam U23 pushed their formation higher in search of an equalizer. Goalkeeper Cao Van Binhremained a standout performer with several crucial saves, while the attack managed to create some notable situations but lacked precision in the final third. Despite a determined effort in the closing minutes, Vietnam U23 could not find the back of the net and conceded a 0-1 defeat.
Concluding the tournament, Vietnam U23 successfully fulfilled its key technical objectives. With a squad primarily composed of under-21 players (born from 2005 onwards), the Xi’an tournament served as a vital opportunity for the coaching staff to test and assess abilities while strengthening cohesion between the lines. This process is a step toward building the next generation of talent, targeting major milestones such as the 2026 Asian Games and future international competitions.
