Identify the coach who will lead the U23 Vietnam team replacing Kim Sang Sik

Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh is nearly confirmed to assume the position of Acting Head Coach of U23 Vietnam as Coach Kim Sang Sik is occupied with managing the national team.

According to the latest information, Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh will continue to be trusted with the task of serving as Acting Head Coach of U23 Vietnam during the upcoming training camp, when Coach Kim Sang Sik cannot directly lead the team. In previous instances when U23 Vietnam participated in friendly tournaments in China, this assistant coach has taken on a similar role and helped the team achieve positive results, making this arrangement considered reasonable.

The reason is that the schedule for U23 Vietnam's participation in the CFA Team China – Xi'an 2026 international friendly tournament coincides with the national team's activities. In late March, Coach Kim Sang Sik must dedicate all his time to the Vietnam national team, particularly the friendly match against Bangladesh and the crucial rematch against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

According to the plan, U23 Vietnam will assemble from March 17 in Hanoi to prepare for the tournament taking place from March 25 to March 31, 2026 in Xi'an city (China). This is part of the Vietnam Football Federation's long-term strategy to build a successor force for the national team, while also helping young players accumulate international experience, aiming towards preparation for the 2026 Asian Games.

Initially, U23 Vietnam was not scheduled to compete in March. However, after U23 Iran withdrew due to objective reasons, the Chinese Football Federation sent an invitation for U23 Vietnam to participate in the tournament.

This year's CFA Team China – Xi'an 2026 tournament features four teams including host U23 China, U23 Vietnam, U23 Thailand, and U23 North Korea. The teams will compete in a single round-robin format to determine the final rankings.

VFF has also officially confirmed accepting the invitation from the Chinese Football Federation. This is seen as a good opportunity for U23 Vietnam to compete against strong opponents in the region and Asia, thereby testing the young squad while the national team is also entering a crucial phase of competition.

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