Identifying U23 Vietnam's opponent in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup

U23 UAE (United Arab Emirates), the team that drew with U23 Syria in the last match of Group B, secured second place in the group to advance after Japan. Syria had the same points but ranked lower due to an inferior goal difference compared to UAE. With this result, UAE earned 4 points, holding second place in Group B, and will be U23 Vietnam’s opponent in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals.

UAE often acts as a “formidable obstacle” in major tournaments. However, at this moment, with their rising form and morale, this presents a clear opportunity for U23 Vietnam to make a new chapter in their history.

Considering various aspects, from head-to-head history to performance in the continental U23 competition, UAE is a challenging rival for U23 Vietnam. In terms of direct encounters, U23 UAE holds a clear advantage. In 7 matches at the U23 level since 2014, U23 Vietnam has never won. Specifically, the teams drew 3 times and U23 Vietnam lost 4 matches. Regarding goals scored, U23 UAE netted 15 goals, while U23 Vietnam scored only 6. UAE is among the teams Vietnam has faced multiple times without a win at the U23 level, alongside Uzbekistan and North Korea. Before this tournament, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were also on this list. However, during the group stage, Vietnam broke the streak by defeating Jordan and the host Saudi Arabia.

Their most recent encounter was in March 2023, where U23 Vietnam suffered a heavy defeat against U23 UAE in a friendly match. In May 2022, the West Asian team also won 3-0 in another friendly. These results indicate a certain gap between U23 UAE and U23 Vietnam.

In official tournaments like the 2020 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, the two teams drew 0-0. Earlier, in the 2016 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, U23 Vietnam lost 2-3. At the Asian Games, U23 Vietnam met UAE twice but failed to advance. In 2014, they lost 1-3; at the 2018 Asian Games, they drew 1-1 after 120 minutes but lost 3-4 on penalties in the bronze medal match.

Notably, at the U20 level, during the 2016 AFC U20 Asian Cup, the U20 Vietnam team earned a historic spot at the U20 World Cup. Coached by Hoang Anh Tuan, they drew 1-1 with U20 UAE in the group stage. Thanks to this draw, U20 Vietnam ranked above U20 UAE, eliminating their opponent. Vietnam then advanced to the quarterfinals and defeated host U20 Bahrain in the knockout stage to qualify for the 2017 U20 World Cup.

In this year’s tournament, U23 UAE brings a strong squad with tall and fast players, including six naturalized players: Leonard Offoe Amesimeku, Solomon Sosu, and Richard Akonnor (originally from Ghana), Junior Salif Ndiaye (originally from France), Adli Mohamed (originally from Bahrain), and Hazem Mohammad Abdullah Abbas (originally from Jordan).

The most notable is striker Junior Ndiaye (born 2005). The 21-year-old forward is the son of former French-Senegalese player Samba Ndiaye. Ndiaye stands impressively tall at 1.80m, was professionally trained in France, played for France’s U17 team, and currently belongs to Montpellier in Ligue 2.

At 19, Ndiaye chose UAE nationality. He follows many Brazilian and African stars who have naturalized for the national team. This is the result of UAE’s aggressive naturalization strategy.

Ndiaye possesses high-level dribbling, shielding, and sprinting abilities. His endurance, speed, and ability to press near the penalty area were proven by his goal against U23 Qatar.

While their attack is powerful, U23 UAE’s defense lacks cohesion. Their 0-3 loss to U23 Japan clearly demonstrated this weakness.

When facing a well-organized opponent who controls the game tempo and maintains constant pressure, UAE’s defense is vulnerable. In their last 10 matches across all competitions, U23 UAE recorded 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, scoring 18 goals and conceding 11.

With their excellent form after three straight group stage wins, disciplined play, and sharp pressing escape tactics built by Coach Kim Sang-sik, U23 Vietnam can fully exploit the gaps often left by UAE’s defense when they push forward.

Under Coach Kim Sang-sik, U23 Vietnam has shown a resilient, stable, and combative team image. Their unbeaten streak at the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, SEA Games, qualifiers, and group stages of the AFC U23 Asian Cup clearly demonstrates their growth. This is the time for Vietnam to “settle the score” with UAE.

The match between U23 UAE and U23 Vietnam will take place at 22:30 on January 16 at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City. Although the head-to-head record favors UAE, those are just past statistics. Vietnam enters this quarterfinal with a different mindset, and the match is expected to be the moment for Coach Kim Sang-sik’s team to make a difference, rewrite history against UAE, and create a new story in Asian football.

In knockout rounds, head-to-head history is only a reference. For example, in the group stage, U23 Vietnam defeated host U23 Saudi Arabia, a team they had never beaten before. Currently, U23 Vietnam is in great form, and if they perform to their potential, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad can definitely overcome U23 UAE to reach the semifinals.