Coach Kim Sang Sik has officially revealed the Vietnam U23 squad for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, calling up 25 players-most of whom were part of the gold-medal-winning SEA Games 33 team, along with two returning names: Vy Hao and Van Ha.

The announcement came on the afternoon of December 22. As widely expected, Coach Kim retained the entire roster from SEA Games 33 and brought back Vy Hao and Van Ha, two players who were previously cut from the squad before the team traveled to Thailand.

Now, they’ve been given a second chance to earn a spot among the 23 official names that will compete in the AFC U23 finals. Kim Sang Sik is expected to trim the final squad by two players before the tournament begins.

Vietnam has been drawn into Group A, alongside Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and tournament hosts Saudi Arabia.

According to the official match schedule, Dinh Bac and his teammates will face Jordan on January 6, Kyrgyzstan on January 9, and Saudi Arabia on January 12.

The goal, as set by the coaching staff, is to advance past the group stage-a challenging but attainable target.

As part of their preparation, the squad will depart for a training camp in Qatar on December 26, where they will play a friendly match against U23 Syria.

On January 1, 2026, the team will travel to Saudi Arabia to officially begin their AFC campaign.

Kim Sang Sik: “We’re not relying on magic-just hard work”

Speaking to the press, Coach Kim Sang Sik shared his insights on the team’s development and prospects at the upcoming championship.

“At the AFC U23 Championship, we’ll face strong opponents,” Kim acknowledged.

“We’re using tactical analysis sessions to correct the flaws we saw earlier, and to improve our play going forward.”

He also referenced the team’s valuable experience prior to the SEA Games, when they faced Korea, China, and Uzbekistan in international friendlies.

“The players performed well in those matches,” Kim said.

“That gives me confidence that Vietnam can deliver a solid showing at the AFC U23 Championship 2026.”

Dai Nam