OFFICIAL: VFF will not send Vietnam U23 to ASIAD 2026

The Vietnam Football Federation has reached a consensus to delegate the U21 team to compete in ASIAD 2026 rather than the U23 team.

On December 25th, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the 11th Executive Committee Meeting of the 9th term (2022-2026) took place. The meeting reviewed the results of 2025 and outlined key tasks for 2026, while discussing and approving several important matters in preparation for the VFF’s 2025 Annual Congress (scheduled for December 26, 2025).

The Executive Committee discussed and unanimously approved multiple reports and drafts to be presented at the Congress, including the decision to send the national U21 team to participate in the 2026 Asian Games. This is aimed at adequately preparing for major upcoming events, including the 34th SEA Games in 2027, which will be hosted by Malaysia.

Currently, in the Vietnam U23 squad preparing for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, there are five players eligible to be part of the U21 team for ASIAD, including goalkeeper Nguyễn Tân, goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình, midfielder Lê Văn Thuận, midfielder Nguyễn Công Phương, and forward Nguyễn Lê Phát.

Additionally, the U21 Vietnam team will certainly add players from the U19, U20, or even U17 squads. Choosing to send only the U21 team instead of the Olympic team (U23 plus 3 overage players) like in ASIAD 2018 indicates that the VFF prioritizes thorough preparation for the 34th SEA Games in two years over immediate results.

Regarding the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam U23 team is placed in Group A alongside host Saudi Arabia – the 2022 champions, U23 Jordan, and U23 Kyrgyzstan, who are making their debut at this tournament. This group is considered highly competitive, featuring a title contender, an unpredictable opponent, and an ambitious newcomer eager to prove themselves.

According to the schedule, Vietnam U23 will face U23 Jordan in their opening match on January 6, then play against U23 Kyrgyzstan on January 9, before concluding the group stage with a match against the host U23 Saudi Arabia on January 12.