Vietnam U23 receives good news ahead of the semi-finals, netizens cheer, China is at a disadvantage.

Ahead of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup semi-final match between Vietnam U23 and China U23, behind-the-scenes information regarding the match kits is receiving special attention from fans.

Specifically, at the pre-match technical meeting, the Vietnam U23 team registered their traditional red kit – a choice that generated much expectation and excitement among fans. Accordingly, in this year's tournament, the Vietnam U23 team wore red in three matches against Jordan U23, Kyrgyzstan U23, and UAE U23, and white in the match against Saudi Arabia U23. Notably, coach Kim Sang Sik's team won all four of these matches. This positive streak has led fans to view the red kit as a "lucky charm" for the team.

The fact that the Vietnam U23 team chose red kits also means that the China U23 team cannot use their familiar orange kit due to the color clash. Meanwhile, orange is the main kit of the China U23 team and has been used throughout all four matches since the beginning of the tournament. Notably, in the matches against Iraq U23, Australia U23, Thailand U23, and Uzbekistan U23, the China U23 team kept a clean sheet while wearing the orange kit. Therefore, being forced to change kits is believed to potentially affect the team's morale.

On the homepage of the Vietnam Football Federation, numerous fans left comments expressing their joy and anticipation as the Vietnam U23 team continued to play in their traditional red jerseys. Many opinions suggested that this was not only a professional choice but also carried great spiritual significance, helping the players feel more confident, relaxed, and enthusiastic before the decisive match.

For Vietnamese fans, the color red is not only associated with the traditional jersey but also symbolizes luck, strength, and fighting spirit. In the tense semi-final match ahead, wearing their familiar colors is seen as an initial "spiritual victory," helping to boost the team's motivation in the confrontation with a highly-rated opponent.

Not only Vietnamese media, but also Chinese press are paying special attention to this semi-final match. According to an analysis by the website 163, this is considered a typical clash between the attacking style of the Vietnamese U23 team and the solid defensive capabilities of the Chinese U23 team.

The Vietnam U23 team is currently one of the five most effective attacking teams in this year's finals, with four consecutive wins and eight goals scored. Notably, the goals have come from various players across different positions, demonstrating the diversity in their approach to the opponent's goal. Most notably, Dinh Bac stands out with three goals and one assist, becoming a dangerous attacking threat for the red-shirted team.

Commenting on the match, China U23 head coach Antonio Puche was very cautious. He emphasized: "We have reached the semi-finals, which confirms the team's strength. We have the utmost respect for Vietnam, because they are a very resilient team and not easy to deal with. We will face many difficulties, so thorough preparation and maintaining focus are extremely important."

Trung Kien makes a shocking statement before the match against China, Dinh Bac comments with one sentence. Hải Dương09:50:25 18/01/2026On his personal page, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien made a noteworthy move by unexpectedly issuing a warning ahead of the match against China. Interestingly, Dinh Bac was also present, commenting on his teammate.