Vietnam's Olympic team has been placed in the top seed group for the men's football draw at the 2026 Asian Games.

The 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 2026) organizers have formally announced the tournament structure and seedings for the men's football draw, which will be held on July 23 in Japan.

According to the latest update, following Iraq's withdrawal before the draw, the men's football event at the 2026 Asian Games will feature 15 teams. As the host nation, Japan is seeded in Pot 1 and automatically placed in position A1.

Vietnam's Olympic team is also in Pot 1 alongside Japan, South Korea, and China. Being in the highest seed group allows Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad to avoid these three opponents during the group stage.

Under the competition format, the 15 teams will be split into four groups: three groups of four teams and one group of three teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

In addition to Pot 1 (Japan, China, Vietnam, South Korea), Pot 2 includes Uzbekistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Pot 3 consists of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and the Philippines, while Pot 4 contains Kuwait, Hong Kong (China), and North Korea.

Since Pot 4 has only three teams, one group will consist of just three teams. This means one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, and one from Pot 3 will be placed together in that group, while the other three groups will have four teams each.

Despite being in Pot 1, Vietnam's Olympic team could still face formidable opponents like Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, or Thailand from Pot 2, as well as Iran or Qatar from Pot 3.

The draw results on July 23 are anticipated to greatly impact the chances of Coach Kim Sang Sik's team making a deep run at the Asian Games on Japanese soil.

Vietnam's squad planning for the 20th Asian Games is being shaped with a long-term perspective. Instead of emphasizing immediate results, the team is expected to prioritize young players, with a core from the U21 age group, aiming toward the 2027 SEA Games and beyond, including the 2028 Olympic qualifiers.

However, the personnel strategy may still be adjusted to boost competitiveness. Several standout players from Vietnam's U23 team, who recently enjoyed a successful run at the Asian U23 Championship, could become crucial elements in the preparation for the 20th Asian Games.

The 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 2026) will be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan, bringing together top continental athletes competing in various sports. The football tournament will start earlier, from September 14 to October 3, with matches held across multiple Japanese cities. This marks the third time Japan has hosted the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.