Head Coach Kim Sang Sik: “Vietnam U23 aims for a place in the Quarter-finals”
Ahead of the opening match against Jordan U23 at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, head coach Kim Sang Sik, along with defender Pham Ly Duc, attended the tournament’s official press conference, sharing insights into the team’s preparations, objectives and overall spirit of the Vietnam U23 side.
06/01/2026 11:43:18
At the start of the press conference, head coach Kim Sang Sik extended New Year greetings and expressed his pleasure at Vietnam U23 being among the 16 strongest teams in Asia. According to the Korean coach, the AFC U23 Asian Cup is a highly competitive tournament where all teams strive to assert their status. “This is an opportunity for Vietnam U23 to demonstrate our competitiveness not only in Southeast Asia but also at the continental level. Although our opponents are considered stronger, we will compete with determination in every match and set our goal on reaching the quarter-finals,” Kim Sang Sik emphasized.
Recalling Vietnam U23’s historic achievement at the 2018 tournament, Kim Sang Sik noted that the current context has changed significantly. He said: “The players, preparation conditions and competition environment are all different now. Every upcoming match will be very difficult and fiercely contested. However, the team have prepared thoroughly in terms of organization, physical condition and mentality, and we also gain confidence from our recent achievements.”
Kim Sang Sik particularly highlighted the importance of team spirit, viewing it as a key foundation in Vietnam U23’s journey. “We live and train together for a long period, sometimes even more than the time spent with our families. That is not always easy, but it helps build strong team spirit. After winning the SEA Games, it is my responsibility to ensure the players do not rest on their laurels. The opponents and environment at the AFC U23 Asian Cup are very different, but we need to maintain our confidence and belief to perform well,” he stressed.
Defender Pham Ly Duc also expressed pride in Vietnam U23 being one of the 16 teams at the finals. “All the opponents here are very strong and have many quality players. The whole team have prepared well and will approach each match with the mindset that every game is a battle. Our goal is to go as far as possible,” he shared.
Speaking about the opening match against Jordan U23, Pham Ly Duc said the coaching staff have conducted thorough analysis. “Jordan have many tall players and are strong in long-ball play. We will try to limit their strengths and compete with more than 200 percent effort. The whole team hope to continue receiving support from fans, both at the stadium and from afar, to gain extra motivation,” he emphasized.
On the other side, Jordan U23 head coach Omar Najhi spoke highly of Vietnam U23 and regarded the opening match as an important challenge. According to Omar Najhi, Jordan U23 have prepared well in terms of personnel, fitness, tactics and mentality, aiming for a positive start to the tournament.
The Jordan U23 coach also showed great respect for Vietnam U23, noting the red-shirted side’s clear progress in recent times. “Vietnam play modern football, have improved very quickly and have just won a championship. They are a strong opponent and we must stay highly focused. I am impressed with several players wearing numbers 7 (Dinh Bac), 17 (Phi Hoang) and 11 (Van Khang); they are very fast and dangerous,” Omar Najhi commented.
The match between Vietnam U23 and Jordan U23 will take place at 6:30 p.m. on January 6 (Vietnam time).
