The U23 Vietnam squad for the 2026 Asian Games has undergone major changes

Instead of aiming for medals at the 2026 Asian Games, Vietnamese football is opting to provide chances for the U21 player cohort. This decision, made by coach Kim Sang-sik and the VFF, goes beyond professional considerations and demonstrates a long-term development philosophy, ready to forgo short-term achievements to lay the groundwork for more significant objectives ahead.

The decision to field a core squad of U21 players at the 2026 Asian Games highlights a notable shift in Vietnam's football development strategy. Rather than maximizing the use of over-age players to pursue short-term results, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is choosing to invest in the future.

According to VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu, the team competing in the 2026 Asian Games will serve as an important stepping stone toward the 2027 SEA Games 34, the 2028 U23 Asia Cup, and especially the qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. These are strategic objectives for Vietnamese football in the next development cycle.

It is expected that the squad for the Asian Games in Japan this September will include many promising young talents such as Cao Van Binh, Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Cong Phuong, and Nguyen Le Phat. In addition, more experienced U23 players like Nguyen Dinh Bac will take on the role of professional leader, helping younger teammates adapt to the high-level competitive environment.

Accepting to "take a step back" at a continental-level competition shows that the VFF understands the current gap in quality between Vietnamese football and Asia's top football nations. Instead of chasing immediate results, Vietnamese football is focused on accumulating international experience for players born from 2005 onward, who will reach their peak in time for the 2028 Olympics.

One of the key reasons behind this decision is the current lack of actual playing opportunities for young domestic players.

According to VFF data, U17, U19, or U21 teams that do not advance past qualifiers typically play only 6 to 8 matches per season, equivalent to about 3 to 4 weeks of competition. Such a limited match load is insufficient for young players to develop comprehensively and gain experienceon the pitch.

In this context, major tournaments like the Asian Games become valuable opportunities for young talents to test themselves against stronger opponents, thereby narrowing the gap in skill and competitive composure.

The trend of giving opportunities to young players is also clearly emerging in V.League. Dong A Thanh Hoa is one of the pioneering clubs, boldly using U20 and U21 players like Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Ngoc My, Nguyen Van Tung, and Vo Nguyen Hoang in the professional football environment.

Sending the U21 squad to the 2026 Asian Games certainly carries many risks in terms of results. Losses to strong opponents are entirely possible given the squad’s youth and lack of experience.

However, if properly invested in after the tournament—ranging from nutrition and sports medicine to ensuring playing time in V.League and other professional leagues—the valuable experiences gained at the Asian Games could become the foundation for a new generation of players.

More importantly, this strategy requires patience from fans. Great future successes often begin with courageous decisions in the present. And the 2026 Asian Games could well be the first test of the sustainable development mindset that Vietnamese football is pursuing.