Vietnam U23's opponent shows notable moves ahead of the AFC U23 Championship finals

Jordan U23, the first rival of Vietnam U23 at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, is becoming a strong and unpredictable contender, particularly given recent key adjustments in Jordan's football leadership.

According to Transfermarkt, the Jordan U23 squad is valued at only about 2.43 million euros, ranking among the lower tiers in the tournament. However, these figures have long ceased to accurately represent Jordanian football’s true strength. At the senior national team level, Jordan shocked many by reaching the final of the 2023 Asian Cup and securing an early qualification for the 2026 World Cup, demonstrating their ability to exceed expectations.

At the U23 level, Jordan enters the competition with highly impressive credentials: undefeated in qualifiers, scoring 19 goals and conceding just once. Ahead of the tournament in Saudi Arabia, they maintained a 10-match unbeaten streak, including draws against Uzbekistan U23 and wins over UAE and Syria.

Notably, just before 2026 began, the Jordan Football Association appointed Abdelhay Ben Sultan as Technical Director from early 2026, responsible for managing and overseeing professional activities aligned with the federation's development goals.

Ben Sultan has an outstanding professional background in football. He holds an African Professional Coaching License (PRO) and has attended multiple advanced training courses for football instructors. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in Physical Education and Sports Science, as well as a master’s in Education specializing in Sports Psychology.

In his career, Ben Sultan has coached various Tunisian national youth teams across different age groups, achieving notable successes including guiding teams deep into youth World Cups. He has also led several clubs to titles and gained valuable coaching experience in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

Regarding the squad, Jordan U23 includes several players with senior national team experience such as Ali Hajabi, Odeh Al-Fakhouri, Ja'far Samara, and Ahmad Ayman. Among them, striker Odeh Al-Fakhouri is considered the most dangerous weapon due to his speed, opportunism, and energetic style of play.

Under coach Omar Najhi’s leadership, Jordan U23 retains its familiar West Asian identity: excellent fitness, disciplined defense, quick transitions, and particularly dangerous counterattacks.

With stable form, an experienced squad, and strategic adjustments behind the scenes, Jordan U23 is clearly not a team to be underestimated. Vietnam U23 is expected to face a real challenge right from their opening match in Group A at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.