When and where will the men's football of ASIAD 2026 take place?

The men's football event of ASIAD 2026 will take place from September 15 to October 3, 2026 in Japan. Below is essential information about the tournament, where U23 Vietnam is placed in a relatively favorable group.

When will the men's football of ASIAD 2026 take place?

• Match schedule: From September 15 to October 3, 2026.

The men's football will kick off earlier than the opening ceremony of ASIAD 2026. The tournament gathers 15 teams, after Iraq withdrew before the draw.

According to the draw results, Vietnam is in Group C with Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and Kuwait. This is considered a fairly comfortable group. as Uzbekistan is the strongest opponent, while the Philippines and Kuwait are both teams at a comparable level to Vietnam's representative. The teams will play a single round-robin to determine points. The four group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the quarter-finals.

Notably, ASIAD men's football continues to apply the rule of using U23 squads with a maximum of three overage players, similar to the Olympics. However, the VFF once proposed sending an U21 team to participate in order to create conditions for the players aiming towards the 2027 SEA Games and the 2028 Olympic qualifiers.

Where will the men's football of ASIAD 2026 take place?

• Venue: Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.

ASIAD 2026 is held in the two prefectures of Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, taking place from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The men's football event will start on September 15, earlier than the opening ceremony of the Games due to the specific schedule.

At ASIAD 2026, teams will compete for medals while the tournament coincides with the FIFA Days period from September 21 to October 6, 2026. This makes many national teams have to consider their squad strength, especially since the 2027 Asian Cup will start just a few months later.

Vietnam enters the tournament with high expectations after winning a bronze medal at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, thereby being placed in the top seed group before the draw. This is seen as an opportunity for Vietnamese football to aim for a deep run at the continental level.