U23 Vietnam will be without coach Kim Sang Sik when facing the reigning Asian champions

U23 Vietnam will head to China for a friendly competition in November, but coach Kim Sang Sik won’t be able to manage the team in person because of his duties with the senior national squad.

U23 Vietnam will participate in an international friendly tournament in China this coming November as part of their preparation for the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Organized by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the event features four strong teams: U23 China, U23 Uzbekistan, U23 South Korea, and U23 Vietnam. These top Asian teams promise valuable competitive experience for the Vietnamese squad and their coach.

However, since the tournament coincides with the FIFA international window in November, during which the Vietnam national team prepares for the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Laos, coach Kim Sang Sik will be unable to directly oversee the U23 team.

It is likely that assistant coach Đinh Hồng Vinh will continue to be entrusted with leading the U23 Vietnam team during this tournament, as he did during the October training camp.

The November friendly tournament is seen as a concrete step to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on football development cooperation for 2025–2028 between the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the CFA, signed last August. U23 Vietnam’s participation not only holds sporting significance but also symbolizes the deepening partnership between the two football associations.

Previously, during the October FIFA window, U23 Vietnam trained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and played two friendlies against U23 Qatar. Despite missing eight key players who were with the national team, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh’s squad showed commendable fighting spirit, narrowly losing 0-1 and 2-3. These matches helped the coaching staff evaluate the squad and build international experience for the young players.

The upcoming friendly tournament in China is expected to serve as another important test for U23 Vietnam to refine their squad, aiming to conquer the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.