The coach to lead the Vietnam U23 team has been finalized, replacing Coach Kim Sang Sik.

It is very probable that assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh will once again temporarily take over from Coach Kim Sang Sik to guide the Vietnam U23 team at ASIAD 20.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 coincides with ASIAD 20, creating a complex personnel challenge for the coaching staff of the Vietnam national team. The Asian Games are scheduled to start on September 19 and conclude on October 4, with football matches typically beginning a few days before the opening ceremony. This overlapping schedule makes the allocation of players and coaching personnel particularly crucial.

In this context, the Vietnam U23 team is likely to be entrusted to an assistant coach of Kim Sang-sik, with Dinh Hong Vinh being a prominent candidate.

Mr. Dinh Hong Vinh has repeatedly taken temporary charge of the Vietnam U23 team during training camps and friendly matches, playing a key role in implementing training plans, monitoring player performance, and providing technical reports to the head coach. His familiarity with the squad and experience working closely with Coach Kim make him a suitable choice if he needs to "take command temporarily."

In fact, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has a clear strategy for the ASIAD 2026 campaign. After consulting with the Department of Sports and Physical Training, this tournament is identified as an opportunity for young players, mainly from the U21 generation (born 2005-2007), to gain international competition experience. This is also a long-term preparation step towards the 34th SEA Games and the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Nevertheless, the squad for ASIAD may still be supplemented with some U23 players to enhance professional quality. However, the core force will remain young players, with the primary goal being learning and growth rather than focusing heavily on results. This approach helps Vietnamese football build a sustainable foundation for the future.

This strategy is not entirely new. At ASIAD 19 in 2023, the VFF applied a similar plan by having Coach Hoang Anh Tuan lead the U23 "B" team to compete in the continental arena, while the U23 "A" team under Philippe Troussier's direction was prioritized for the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers. This separation of forces helped optimize resources amidst a dense competition schedule.

BREAKING: Coach Kim Sang Sik will no longer lead the Vietnam U23 team.

A Vietnam U23 midfielder exclaimed one thing after scoring against CAHN.