Having once secured a narrow victory over the UAE, the Vietnam national team made a significant impact across Asia.

The U23 Vietnam squad may gain encouragement by reflecting on the win achieved by their senior counterparts at the national team level against the UAE in 2019.

In 2019, during the second round of the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers, Vietnam hosted the UAE team at the Mỹ Đình Stadium.

Although playing away, the West Asian side showed dominance over Coach Park Hang Seo’s team by pushing forward and creating several dangerous attacking chances. However, a costly red card to Khalifa Mubarak at the 37th minute left the visitors a man down, providing Vietnam an opportunity to pursue a favorable result.

This advantage was realized in the 44th minute when striker Nguyễn Tiến Linh scored one of the finest goals of his career. After a clever pass from Quang Hải, Tiến Linh controlled the ball smoothly before unleashing a shot from over 30 meters out. The ball followed a difficult trajectory, forcing the UAE goalkeeper to concede.

With a numerical advantage and the lead, Vietnam deliberately slowed the game’s pace and adopted a solid playing style, while still generating pressure on the opponent’s goal. Despite their efforts, the UAE team could not breach Vietnam’s defense, and the 1-0 victory belonged to Park Hang Seo’s squad.

This result not only played a crucial role in helping Vietnam advance to the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers but also resonated widely throughout Asia. The victory over the UAE marked a historic milestone, affirming Vietnam’s new status in continental football.

Coming soon, the generation of players U23 Vietnam will have the chance to follow in their seniors’ footsteps by facing U23 UAE in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Although they do not hold an impressive head-to-head record nor a larger fan base compared to their opponents, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team remains confident in aiming for victory.

U23 Vietnam secured convincing wins against two West Asian teams in the group stage, Jordan and host Saudi Arabia, and is one of only two teams to maintain a perfect winning streak in the group phase. Moreover, their style of play has been praised for the players’ quick adaptability and the coaching staff’s tactical decisions, which have been clearly demonstrated throughout their recent journey.

If they maintain consistent performance and play according to their demonstrated capabilities, U23 Vietnam has a solid foundation to continue making an impact on Asia’s most prestigious stage, fostering hopes of competing fairly for the highest goals against top rivals.

The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 UAE is scheduled for 10:30 PM on January 16 (Vietnam time).