Thailand's U23 team gears up for ASIAD 2026, while Vietnam's U23 team springs another surprise.

Thailand's U23 team is scheduled to play friendlies against several top opponents ahead of the ASIAD 2026, while Vietnam's U23 side has opted for an entirely different path.

The Thailand U23 national team is demonstrating very thorough preparation for the upcoming ASIAD Aichi-Nagoya 2026. In contrast, the Vietnam U23 team has taken an entirely different path that has caught many by surprise.

Recently, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) officially announced the friendly match schedule for its U23 national team in June. Accordingly, coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul's squad will face Kyrgyzstan U23 on June 3, South Korea U23 on June 6, and UAE U23 on June 9. Notably, the match against South Korea will be broadcast live, while the other two will be played behind closed doors. The consistent selection of high-quality opponents indicates that Thailand's U23 team is preparing meticulously for this Asian Games.

Beyond the U23 level, the senior Thai national team is also highly active during the June FIFA Days. The "War Elephants" will take on Kuwait and China in preparation for the ASEAN Championship and the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup.

On the other hand, Vietnam's U23 team will not have any friendly matches before ASIAD 2026. Instead, coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues have decided to concentrate on tactical drills and squad development through centralized training.

Similarly, the senior Vietnam national team will not play any official matches in June either. Under the plan, Kim Sang-sik's squad will travel to South Korea for a training camp to prepare for future objectives, particularly the ASEAN Championship.

Additionally, the South Korean tactician has made a notable decision regarding the Vietnam U23 squad for the ASIAD 2026. Although tournament regulations allow each team to add up to three over-age players, similar to coach Park Hang-seo previously used Nguyen Van Quyet, Nguyen Anh Duc, and Do Hung Dung at the 2018 ASIAD. Coach Kim Sang-sik is reportedly not going to adopt this approach. Instead, the Vietnam U23 team is likely to bring a youthful squad to Aichi-Nagoya, combined with a few players who just won the bronze medal at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup. This is seen as a move reflecting Vietnam's long-term vision, prioritizing giving young talents opportunities to gain experience.

It is clear that Vietnamese and Thai football are taking two completely different approaches in preparation for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 ASIAD. While Thailand prioritizes continuous competitive matches against strong opponents to enhance their match toughness, Vietnam focuses on building a foundation for the long-term benefit of future generations.