Lai Van Sam did something rare as Vietnam U23 defeated UAE U23 in the Asian quarterfinals.

The celebratory atmosphere surrounding Vietnam U23's victory spread everywhere. Even MC Lai Van Sam, who rarely posts on social media, couldn't contain his emotions and broke his usual habit of sharing, showing the special appeal of this incredible win.

Following Vietnam U23's 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, a celebratory atmosphere spread everywhere, from social media to everyday life. The emotionally charged match not only ignited excitement among fans but also thrilled many artists and celebrities. Notably, even those usually "low-key" on social media like MC Lai Van Sam had to speak out, demonstrating the special appeal of Vietnamese football during this moment of triumph.

On his personal page, the "National MC" wrote in capital letters, emphasizing his overwhelming joy: "Vietnam! Absolutely amazing! A beautiful, convincing victory for the U23 Vietnamese boys! Thank you and congratulations!". This short but energetic status update quickly received thousands of interactions, showing the online community's empathy for this proud moment.

It wasn't until this quarter-final match that Lai Van Sam expressed his love for Vietnamese football. Before that, in the final group stage match of the U23 Asian Championship on January 13th and even during the SEA Games 33 final, he continuously posted statuses of support. His familiar phrases, often with exclamation marks and all capital letters, such as: "Amazing, U23 Vietnam boys! We love you! So proud of Vietnam!", or "Congratulations to Vietnamese football (men's and women's)! We love you, we're proud of you! Proud of Vietnam! Love Vietnam!", have become his signature expression of excitement.

For those who have followed Lai Van Sam for a long time, it's easy to see that football in particular, and sports in general, are the rare "exceptions" that allow him to frequently appear on social media. Aside from matches of Liverpool FC (England) and the Vietnamese national team, he rarely shares anything about his personal life. If he does, it's mostly warnings about online scams. Therefore, every time he posts something to cheer on football, it delights his audience, who see it as a "sign" of good luck.

Below Lai Van Sam's posts, netizens both cheered on the U23 Vietnam team and humorously commented that if the MC posted a few more statuses, they would see the championship trophy in Vietnam. Many expressed their emotions after the dramatic match: "So dramatic, Uncle Sam! It's been a long time since I've seen such an impressive match," "I've lived long enough to see that the physical strength of Vietnamese players can overpower even West Asian players. So classy, so amazing!", "It's been a long time since I've seen you appear, you're so good!", or "A match so classy, so emotional, I was sweating while watching it, Uncle Sam! Congratulations to U23 Vietnam!"... All of this contributed to a vibrant picture of national pride during these days of football triumph.

Lai Van Sam, born in 1957, is a veteran journalist and MC of VTV and is considered a pioneer in bringing game shows to VTV3. His name is associated with a series of popular shows such as SV 96, The Magic Hat, Choose the Right Price, We Are Soldiers, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Arena 100, Little Sunshine... In 2017, he officially retired from Vietnam Television but still collaborates on some programs.

UAE U23 coach says he was "shocked" by the loss to Vietnam, admits regret, but holds his head high? Tuyết Linh08:22:40 17/01/2026Following their nail-biting 2-3 defeat to Vietnam U23 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship on the morning of January 17th, coach Marcelo Broli expressed regret, but affirmed that the UAE U23 team played a game full of effort and resilience.