Southeast Asian fans collectively express one sentiment when Vietnam competes in the Asian tournament

After winning the SEA Games 2025, all actions of Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad have been under close watch, particularly as the Vietnam U23 team promptly enters the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final stage.

On the ASEAN FOOTBALL fanpage, news about the Vietnam U23 team traveling to Qatar for training and a friendly match against U23 Syria before the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup has attracted numerous comments from regional supporters. Notably, the majority of opinions show interest, encouragement, and even high regard for the direction Vietnamese football is taking under Coach Kim Sang Sik.

An Indonesian fan commented: “Coach Kim is the future of Vietnam. Keep up this positive momentum.” This comment received many interactions, indicating that Coach Kim Sang Sik’s reputation is recognized not only in Vietnam but also impresses fans across the region.

Another Indonesian fan sent direct encouragement to Vietnam U23: “Good luck Vietnam, Indonesia always supports you.” Although Vietnam and Indonesia are direct rivals in many youth tournaments, as they aim for the Asian stage, many Indonesian fans still show support for their Southeast Asian counterparts.

Alongside words of encouragement, some comments posed challenges. One fan wrote: “Hopefully Coach Kim will create history again like Coach Park did in Changzhou in 2018. Wishing the Golden Star warriors great success!” 

These reactions come as Vietnam U23 is entering an intense preparation phase for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. According to the plan, the team will regroup in Hanoi on December 23 after a short three-day break. On December 26, the entire squad will depart for training in Qatar.

During this training camp, Vietnam U23 is expected to play at least one quality friendly match, with the game against Syria U23 scheduled before the team travels to Saudi Arabia on January 1, 2026. This is considered a crucial warm-up for players to adapt to high-intensity matches and the international environment.

At the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, Vietnam U23 is placed in Group A with a challenging schedule. Specifically, the team will face Jordan U23 (January 6), Kyrgyzstan U23 (January 9), and host Saudi Arabia U23 (January 12) sequentially. Since only the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, every match holds critical importance.