U23 Vietnam conclude Asian Games 2026 campaign, turn focus to next challenges
U23 Vietnam were unable to cause an upset against defending champions U23 South Korea, suffering a 0-4 defeat in the quarter-finals of the men’s football tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. Although their campaign came to an end in the last eight, head coach Đinh Hồng Vinh’s side achieved their initial objective of advancing from the group stage. The Asian Games 2026 also provided an opportunity for the team to assess and test their squad as they look ahead to important assignments in the coming period.
29/09/2026 18:31:03
Facing an opponent aiming to win their fourth consecutive Asian Games title, U23 Vietnam started the match cautiously. However, the pressure from U23 South Korea quickly resulted in the opening goal in the 16th minute. From a cross by Lee Hyun-ju from the right flank, forward Lee Young-jun rose highest to send a powerful header beyond the reach of goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình.
After conceding, U23 Vietnam worked hard to respond. Minh Phúc and Quốc Việt both had opportunities to finish, while Quang Vinh struck the post before Văn Thuận followed up to fire the ball into the net in the 35th minute. However, the goal was ruled out for offside. Head coach Đinh Hồng Vinh’s side finished the first half with plenty of effort and determination, but still went into the break trailing.
After the restart, U23 South Korea continued to control the game and apply pressure. Cao Văn Bình made several notable saves, but under sustained pressure from their opponents, U23 Vietnam conceded three more goals in the 76th, 81st and 88th minutes. Lee Young-jun completed his brace, while Kim Ji-soo and Kim Myeong-jun scored the other two goals to seal a 4-0 victory for U23 South Korea.
Although their campaign came to an end in the quarter-finals, U23 Vietnam achieved their objective of advancing from the group stage at the 2026 Asian Games. During their preparations for the tournament, the team not only retained players with international experience but also made adjustments to the squad, giving opportunities to a number of U21 players to gain valuable experience and prepare for upcoming assignments.
Giving young players the opportunity to compete at a continental-level tournament is part of the process of assessing and building the squad for the next cycle. The experience gained at the Asian Games will provide a valuable foundation for the players to continue developing, while also giving the coaching staff additional insights as they prepare the squad for upcoming competitions.
Meanwhile, U23 South Korea entered the quarter-final not only as the defending Asian Games champions but also with a squad featuring several notable additions compared with the team that competed at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. As a result, the quarter-final in Nagoya represented a major challenge for U23 Vietnam, while also providing valuable international experience for the players as they continue to develop and gain exposure at the highest level.
The 2026 Asian Games brought U23 Vietnam’s campaign to an end in the quarter-finals. However, the tournament represents another important step in the team’s process of preparing and developing its squad, particularly the younger players, as they look ahead to their next objectives.
