The competition features U23 China, U23 Vietnam, U23 Thailand and U23 North Korea, with teams playing each other once to determine final standings based on points and tie-breakers.

According to the official schedule, U23 Vietnam will open their campaign against U23 North Korea at 14:00 on March 25. The match is expected to play a key role in setting the tone and building early momentum for the squad.

They will then face regional rivals U23 Thailand at 14:00 on March 28, in what promises to be a highly anticipated clash given the long-standing football rivalry between the two nations.

In the final round on March 31 at 18:35, U23 Vietnam will take on host U23 China. This match is widely seen as decisive in determining the overall rankings of the tournament.

As part of their preparations, U23 Vietnam will gather in Hanoi from March 17 with a squad of 30 players. The training camp aims to help the coaching staff assess and refine the team ahead of upcoming major competitions, particularly ASIAD 2026.

During this phase, the focus will be on evaluating young talents, as many previous key players have either aged out of the U23 category or been promoted to the senior national team. The core squad is expected to consist mainly of players born between 2005 and 2007.

The team will train in Hanoi before finalising a list of 25 players on March 23. Shortly after, they will travel to China to compete in the tournament, which runs from March 25 to March 31 in Xi’an.

The CFA Team China 2026 tournament is considered an important stepping stone, offering valuable match experience and an opportunity for U23 Vietnam to test their strength against competitive opponents in the region.

Thien Binh