U23 Vietnam travels to Qatar for training camp, soon to face Syria

26/12/2025 11:35:00 FieldFrenzy

The U23 Vietnam team departed for Qatar this morning on December 26 for a training camp and will face U23 Syria in a friendly match as part of their preparation for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

The flight carrying the U23 Vietnam team took off at 9:00 AM, with a flight duration of about 8 hours from Hanoi to Doha, expected to land at 5:00 PM (Hanoi time, which is 1:00 PM Doha time).

Importantly, striker Đình Bắc, who is on the shortlist for the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award, is participating in this training trip and thus will be unable to attend tonight’s award gala at Bến Thành Theater (Ho Chi Minh City).

Coach Kim Sang Sik wants the U23 Vietnam players to concentrate fully on their new task: the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. Photo: VFF

Besides Đình Bắc, six other U23 players nominated for the Best Young Player award cannot attend today’s gala, including Cao Văn Bình (SLNA), Nguyễn Hiểu Minh (PVF-CAND), Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ (Thanh Hóa), Nguyễn Lê Phát (PVF/Ninh Bình), Nguyễn Công Phương (Thể Công Viettel), and Lê Văn Thuận (Thanh Hóa).

In Qatar, the U23 Vietnam team will rest and officially start training from tomorrow (December 27). During the 5-day training camp in Qatar, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad will play a friendly match against U23 Syria on December 31, 2025.

After the match against U23 Syria, Coach Kim Sang Sik will trim the squad from 25 to 23 players to register with the organizers of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

Following the training period, the U23 Vietnam team will travel to Saudi Arabia on January 1, 2026, to compete in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. In this tournament, U23 Vietnam is placed in a tough group, facing U23 Jordan in the opening match on January 6, then U23 Kyrgyzstan on January 9, and finishing the group stage against the host U23 Saudi Arabia on January 12.

With thorough preparation, an internationally experienced squad, and high morale after their success at SEA Games 33, the U23 Vietnam team is expected to continue demonstrating a positive image, strong character, and ambition to excel at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

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