Tonight, the China U23 national team faces Vietnam, Antonio: We will give our all to reach the final!

At 11:30 PM Beijing time on January 20, the 2026 U23 Asian Cup semifinal will see China's U23 men's team take on Vietnam's U23 squad. Having already achieved the best record in their history, this match promises to be another tough battle for China’s U23 team.

After defeating Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, the U23 national team is full of confidence. However, head coach Antonio reminded the players at the pre-match press conference to stay humble: “We are thrilled to be here. This is an unforgettable experience for me, the team, and everyone involved. Our approach has always been to take it one match at a time. Reaching the semifinals is our dream, and we will do everything possible to make it to the final.”

“We know the Vietnamese team well, having faced them two or three times before. They are well-organized, defensively solid, and quick in transitioning to attack. Tomorrow’s game will certainly be very challenging, but my players are fully aware and ready to meet the challenge.”

Vietnam’s head coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his hope that his team can maintain their strong form: “It is an immense joy, honor, and excitement to compete alongside teams like South Korea, Japan, and China for the championship. Looking back at our journey, from the match against Jordan to the quarterfinal against the UAE, our players faced tough opponents and many difficult moments. Yet, each time, they showed great resilience and smart play. That’s why we have come this far.”

“I expect China to be a tough opponent. This is their first time reaching the semifinals, and they are highly motivated, with a solid defense led by goalkeeper Li Hao. However, we are fully prepared and will perform at our best.”

This match marks the first-ever clash between Vietnam and China in the history of the U23 Asian Cup. China has kept a clean sheet in all four matches of this tournament, with goalkeeper Li Hao making 24 saves—more than any goalkeeper in the past four editions. Meanwhile, Vietnam has won all four games, scoring eight goals, matching the total they achieved when they finished as runners-up in the 2018 U23 Asian Cup.