The Vietnam U23 football team is gearing up for its first match against Kuwait in the ASIAD 2026 tournament, scheduled for September 15 at 5 PM. With a favorable matchup against a lower-ranked opponent, Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team is optimistic about securing three points to gain an advantage in Group C.

This year's ASIAD features 16 teams in the men's football category, primarily based on the results of the U23 Asian Cup 2026. Following Iraq's withdrawal, the group consists of three teams, competing in a round-robin format to determine the four best teams that will advance to the quarter-finals. The tournament allows U23 players born on or after January 1, 2003, along with a maximum of three overage players.

Vietnam enters the tournament as a top seed after winning a bronze medal in the U23 Asian Cup, avoiding stronger teams like South Korea and Japan in the group stage. The most formidable opponent in Group C is Uzbekistan, while Kuwait and the Philippines are considered more manageable challenges.

Unlike the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year, Vietnam will compete in Japan without head coach Kim Sang-sik, who is focused on leading the national team in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh has taken over as interim head coach. The squad is not at full strength, as several key players have been called up to the national team or are recovering from injuries.

The team still boasts 13 players who won the bronze medal at the U23 Asian Cup, with Pham Ly Duc serving as the captain. Additionally, the coaching staff has integrated 13 U21 players to gain experience for future U23 competitions in 2027-2028. Coach Vinh expressed confidence, stating, "We will do our utmost, respect our opponents, and strive for the best possible results. Our first goal is to advance from the group stage, and then we will aim to go as far as we can."

Kuwait, ranked 133rd in FIFA, is 34 places below Vietnam. The last encounter between the two U23 teams was at the U23 Asian Cup 2024, where Vietnam triumphed 3-1. Historically, Kuwait was a dominant force in Asian football from the 1980s to 2010, achieving a FIFA ranking as high as 24 in 1998 and participating in the 1982 World Cup.

However, government interventions have led to numerous FIFA sanctions since 2007, causing a decline in their football program. Kuwait is now undergoing a revival, with a focus on rebuilding national teams since the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The U23 team has made strides by participating in the U23 Asian Cups in 2022 and 2024.

Despite a heavy loss to South Korea (0-9) in ASIAD 19, Kuwait managed to regain some momentum with two draws against Bahrain and Thailand. The recent improvements in Kuwaiti football are attributed to European coaches, including Rui Bento and Emilio Peixe, who have taken charge of the national and U23 teams, respectively. Currently, the U23 team is coached by Spanish manager David Doniga.

Half of Kuwait's squad consists of U21 players, and they are utilizing three overage players who compete domestically. Coach Doniga has expressed confidence in his team's spirit and experience, which have been cultivated through regular club and national team play. The upcoming match against Vietnam poses a significant challenge, given Vietnam's recent success in the U23 Asian Cup 2026.

The match schedule provides Vietnam with an opportunity to face two evenly matched opponents before concluding with a tougher match against Uzbekistan. The U23 Vietnam squad for ASIAD 2026 includes goalkeepers Hoa Xuan Tin, Nguyen Bao Ngoc, and Cao Van Binh; defenders such as Le Nguyen Hoang and Pham Ly Duc; midfielders including Le Van Thuan and Nguyen Quang Vinh; and forwards like Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Nguyen Le Phat.