The final opponent of Vietnam U23 has arrived in Viet Tri

The Singapore U23 squad has arrived in Viet Tri (Phu Tho), prepared for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifying round.

On the evening of September 1st, the Singapore U23 team led by coach Firdaus Kassim arrived in Phu Tho, ready to begin their campaign in Group C of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers.

After a roughly 4-hour flight from Changi Airport (Singapore), coach Firdaus Kassim and his team were warmly welcomed by the local organizing committee, who presented flowers and wished them success in Group C.

To prepare for the tournament, Singapore U23 brought 24 players, including many currently playing in the S-League. Notably, the squad includes Japanese-born defender Junki Yoshimura, who plays for Albirex Niigata Singapore.

Although arriving in Vietnam later than Bangladesh U23 and Yemen U23, Singapore U23 has prepared thoroughly, having trained in Portugal earlier in August. The Lion City team also achieved positive results in recent friendlies: a draw against Philippines U23 and a win over Malaysia U23.

According to the schedule, on September 2nd, Singapore U23 will hold their only training session at the training ground of the Phu Tho Provincial Sports Complex. Coach Firdaus Kassim’s team will make their debut against Yemen U23 at 16:00 on September 3rd at Viet Tri Stadium.

Head coach Firdaus Kassim expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress during preparations and emphasized the positive strides made in recent weeks: "If we can maintain that level of performance on the field, I believe this team will show fans a style of play they can be proud of.

The players have clearly matured and bonded much more throughout the preparation period. We have worked hard to build resilience within the squad, and I feel encouraged by the improvements they have made. My demand is clear: to compete fiercely in every situation."

Although considered the underdogs, Singapore U23’s strength remains an unknown factor for Vietnam U23 since they did not participate in the recent Southeast Asian U23 Championship. However, if Vietnam plays to their potential, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team should not find it difficult to secure three points against this opponent.