The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Olympic Council of Asia have finalized a new qualification format for men’s football at the Games. Under this agreement, all 16 teams that competed in the U23 Asian Cup will receive automatic entry into the Asiad.

For Southeast Asia, only Vietnam and Thailand have secured spots at the prestigious tournament.

On the women’s side, 12 teams participating in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 this March will also qualify directly for Asiad 20. From the region, Vietnam and the Philippines will represent Southeast Asia in women’s football.

Despite U23 Vietnam securing the ticket, the players who won bronze at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup will not be competing in Japan.

Nguyen Xuan Vu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), explained: “The Executive Committee has decided to send the U20 team to the 2026 Asiad. This squad will still be eligible for the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia and is part of our long-term strategy for the 2028 Olympic qualifiers. Japan and South Korea are doing the same - fielding U20 teams to prepare for larger competitions like the Olympics.”

This is not the first time Vietnam has chosen to send a younger squad to the Asian Games. In 2023, the U20 team coached by Hoang Anh Tuan also competed in place of the senior U23s.

Nguyen Xuan Vu noted that by sending the U20 team, the VFF is prioritizing development over results: “We accept that we are not chasing medals at the Asiad. This is about nurturing young players and building continuity.”

In women’s football, head coach Mai Duc Chung will not be leading the team at Asiad 20. His contract with VFF is set to end after the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March. A new head coach will be appointed for the Asiad campaign.

Dai Nam