U23 Vietnam - U23 Kyrgyzstan: Aiming for an Early Quarterfinal Spot

U23 Vietnam started well at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final tournament by defeating U23 Jordan 2-0. This positive result puts Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team firmly in the race for a quarterfinal spot in Group A.

U23 Vietnam currently leads Group A based on goal difference. Just one more win will almost guarantee Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team a place in the quarterfinals, especially if Saudi Arabia defeats Jordan.

Meanwhile, U23 Kyrgyzstan lost to host Saudi Arabia. Despite being down a player early (Sharshenbekov received a red card in the 35th minute), the Central Asian team defended stoutly and conceded only a single goal in the 88th minute.

In this match, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team is favored over their opponent. However, U23 Vietnam players must remain grounded as Kyrgyzstan is considered the weakest team in Group A.

Kyrgyzstan has accepted the underdog role and will likely adopt a defensive approach. If the Central Asian side chooses to play defensively, it will not be easy for U23 Vietnam to secure a win, as Vietnamese football traditionally relies more on counterattacks than controlling the game.

U23 Vietnam has been effective in set-piece situations — a strength that can be further exploited against Kyrgyzstan, a team known for direct play and physicality. Maintaining defensive discipline and sharp attacking will give Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team a strong chance to earn another 3 points, practically ensuring a quarterfinal spot.

Looking at head-to-head records, U23 Kyrgyzstan is not far behind U23 Vietnam. In their first meeting at the 2014 Asian Games, Vietnam won 1-0, but in a 2023 friendly, Kyrgyzstan edged a narrow victory.

Statistics do not favor U23 Vietnam. In previous AFC U23 Championships, the Golden Stars twice faced Central Asian teams and lost to U23 Uzbekistan both times. Although Kyrgyzstan is rated below Uzbekistan, Central Asian football remains a tough “unknown” with its physically demanding, disciplined, and counterattacking style.

Notably, U23 Kyrgyzstan is stronger than many assume. They topped their qualifying group, finishing above Uzbekistan, a traditional powerhouse at the U23 level in Asia. Against Saudi Arabia in the opener, Kyrgyzstan showed resilience despite playing most of the match with one less player, highlighting their defensive strength.

Riding the momentum from their opening win and maintaining a consistent lineup, U23 Vietnam is in a commanding position in Group A. The match against Kyrgyzstan will be a key test of Coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad’s potential to advance further.

Based on their opening performance, current player fitness, and form, it is likely Coach Kim Sang-sik will keep the squad mostly unchanged. Nevertheless, he is known for surprising opponents with tactical rotations and personnel changes, so a few adjustments in the starting lineup against Kyrgyzstan cannot be ruled out.