Coach Kim reveals his strategy to defeat UAE U23 in the Asian quarter-finals; Vietnam U23 is ready to create an upset.

Vietnam U23 enters the knockout stage of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship with a perfect record in the group stage. Coach Kim Sang Sik is confident against UAE U23, determined to achieve a historic milestone in the semi-finals.

Tonight (January 16th), the Vietnam U23 team will play their first knockout match at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship – a crucial milestone that will determine the team's chances of progressing further in the tournament. Following their explosive group stage performance with a perfect record against Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and host nation Saudi Arabia, the team is receiving much praise from the continental media. Beyond the impressive points tally, the recent matches have also shown a clear maturation in terms of composure, tactical organization, and fighting spirit.

In the pre-match press conference, coach Kim Sang Sik expressed his pride in his players. He emphasized that the perfect 9 points in the group stage were a well-deserved reward for the team's relentless efforts. The South Korean coach affirmed: "The perfect 9 points in the group stage are a well-deserved reward for the dedication, discipline, and cohesion of the entire team." However, he also stressed that the Vietnam U23 team does not want to stop at the quarterfinals but aims for higher goals in this year's tournament.

Vietnam U23's opponent in the knockout round is the UAE U23 team – a West Asian representative possessing superior physique, speed, and physical strength. According to coach Kim Sang Sik, this is a very difficult team to play against, with many players over 1.8m tall, especially names like Ndiaye and Al-Menhali, who have good acceleration and often create breakthroughs. The UAE wingers are also highly rated for their crossing and aerial abilities, always posing a potential threat to the opposing defense.

Nevertheless, the U23 Vietnam coaching staff has prepared thoroughly. Coach Kim Sang Sik said the team spent a lot of time analyzing UAE's playing style, from their defensive organization to their quick transitions. He placed great faith in the defense, especially the central trio of Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh, and Ly Duc. These players are highly regarded for their ability to read situations, provide cover, and maintain focus throughout the 90 minutes. According to him, if they maintain tactical discipline and a reasonable team formation, U23 Vietnam can completely limit the pressure from their West Asian opponents.

Another advantage mentioned by coach Kim Sang Sik is physical fitness. Compared to the UAE U23 team, the Vietnam U23 team has an extra day of rest to recover. In the context of a packed and high-intensity schedule in the knockout round, this rest period is considered crucial. The South Korean coach believes that good physical preparation, coupled with team spirit and collective play, will help the Vietnam U23 team have enough strength to settle the match within the 90 minutes of regular time, without needing to extend it to extra time.

Historically, in the U23 Asian Championship, Vietnam U23 has never beaten UAE U23, with one draw and one loss. However, coach Kim Sang Sik believes that the past is not a major obstacle. He sees the current Vietnam U23 squad as having made significant progress in both mentality and professional quality, from their ability to control the tempo of the game, transition between phases, to their confidence when facing strong opponents.

If they defeat U23 UAE, U23 Vietnam will reach the semi-finals of the U23 Asian Championship for the first time since their historic achievement in 2018, and simultaneously end a streak of two consecutive tournaments where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Dinh Bac scores a spectacular goal to defeat U23 Saudi Arabia, surprisingly leading the AFC poll – a shocking result. Tuyết Anh11:14:13 16/01/2026Dinh Bac scored against U23 Saudi Arabia, helping U23 Vietnam win all their group stage matches and take the lead in the AFC Goal of the Year poll with nearly 70% of the votes, becoming a great source of inspiration before the quarter-final match against U23 UAE.