Vietnam U23 team gets more motivation before the qualifying round of the AFC U23 Championship

Sponsorship signing ceremony between VFF and LPBank . Photo: VFF

The 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers will feature 44 teams, divided into 11 groups. The teams will compete in a round robin format to determine points and rankings, and select the 11 group winners and the four best second-placed teams, along with the host team U23 Saudi Arabia, to participate in the final round, to be held in January 2026. The Vietnam U23 team is in Group C with U23 Yemen, U23 Singapore and U23 Bangladesh.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu affirmed that LPBank's support is not only a practical source of support for the organization of the tournament hosted by Vietnam, but also adds spiritual strength and helps U23 Vietnam have more favorable conditions when participating in the qualifying round of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan presents Vietnam national team jerseys to sponsors. Photo: VFF

Mr. Nguyen Van Phu informed that, as part of the preparation plan for the important goals of the Vietnam U23 team in 2025, in addition to the effort to win the right to host the group of the Vietnam U23 team in the qualifying round of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the VFF and coach Kim Sang-sik have proactively built a long-term plan for the team's force. From the second half of 2024 to now, many players in the U22 age group have been called up to the national team in FIFA Days to accumulate experience, improve their technical skills and get used to the intensity of international competition. In addition, the Vietnam U22 team also regularly participates in quality tournaments such as the international U22 tournament in China in March 2025 with the participation of Uzbekistan, South Korea and host China. Recently, the Vietnam U23 team has excellently won the U23 Southeast Asian Championship for the third consecutive time after defeating host Indonesia in the final match, creating more confidence before entering the continental qualifying round.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Bui Thai Ha, Vice Chairman of LPBank's Board of Directors, expressed that LPBank's decision to become the main companion of Group C stems from its belief in the potential and will of the young generation of Vietnamese players. Through this cooperation, LPBank hopes to work with VFF to spread the noble spirit of sportsmanship , while creating motivation for the U23 Vietnam team to have more favorable conditions and confidently conquer the goal of reaching the final round.

Coach Kim Sang Sik expressed that he will prepare well for each match. Photo: VFF

The matches in Group C - the qualifying round of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship will take place at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ) from September 3 to 9, 2025. To prepare for the tournament, the Vietnam U23 team will gather again on August 29.

VFF launches book "25 years of Vietnamese professional football journey". Photo: VFF

* On the same afternoon (August 26), the Vietnam Football Federation organized a book launch event “25 years of Vietnamese professional football journey”. The book has full content, images, and is the passion of generations of VFF leaders through the ages, of sports journalists about the journey of developing Vietnamese professional football.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tuyen-u23-viet-nam-duoc-tiep-them-dong-luc-truoc-vong-loai-giai-bong-da-u23-chau-a-714088.html