AFC praises Khuất Văn Khang, recognizing U23 Vietnam as a potential contender for the Asian Cup championship

The U23 Vietnam squad is seen as a potential dark horse at the 2026 Asian Cup finals, with prospects to go beyond their 2018 runner-up finish.

In a series introducing the teams competing in the 2026 Asian Cup finals, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) provided a comprehensive overview of the U23 Vietnam team.

"Vietnam is aiming to claim the AFC U23 Asian Cup title for the first time at the Saudi Arabia 2026 tournament.

A regular participant on the continental stage, Vietnam’s best achievement remains the runner-up position in 2018, when they lost to Uzbekistan in the final.

Record: Previous appearances: 5. Best achievement: Runner-up (2018). 2024 result: Quarterfinals.