Vietnam made history as the first Southeast Asian team to win all their group stage matches, defeating tough opponents like Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and host nation Saudi Arabia.

Vietnam players celebrate their winning goal against the UAE in the U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals on January 16, 2026.

Their momentum continued in the quarterfinals with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over the UAE, securing a spot in the semifinals for the first time since their historic 2018 campaign, where they finished runners-up after losing 2-1 to Uzbekistan in extra time under heavy blizzards.

The performance has drawn admiration and envy from the Indonesian press. Suara Merdeka recalled the 2024 U23 Asian Cup, when both countries performed well, Vietnam reached the quarterfinals and Indonesia in the semifinals. This year only Vietnam have maintained their form, while Indonesia failed to qualify for the tournament.

Kompas urged other nations in the region to learn from this consistency, stating: "From the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship, the 33rd SEA Games and now the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, Vietnamese youth football has continuously achieved success and titles. They deserve to be a model for youth football development in Southeast Asia."

Bola highlighted that Vietnam's success is particularly noteworthy because it was achieved with homegrown talent rather than the mass naturalization strategies employed by rivals like Malaysia or Indonesia.

"This achievement confirms the progress of Vietnamese football on the continental stage, and they did it not through mass naturalization," the outlet commented.

China will face Vietnam in the semifinals at 10:30 p.m. on January 20 after Vietnam defeated UAE 3-2 in extra time early on Saturday.

The two sides have met three times previously at the U23 Panda Cup, with China winning once, drawing once and losing most recently in November 2025.

Japan and South Korea will play the other semifinal of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 earlier on January 20.

Vietnam advance to U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals as Group A leader

Vietnam stunned hosts Saudi Arabia with a 1-0 win in a match on late January 12 (Hanoi time) to top Group A, advancing to the U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals.

Former kindergarten teacher wins Asian MMA gold for Vietnam

Vietnamese fighter Lo Thi Phung, a former kindergarten teacher, claimed gold at the 2026 Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships (AMMA) in China after defeating her Iranian opponent with a quick submission.

Nearly 11,000 runners take part in Ho Chi Minh City Marathon

Notably, more than 2,300 runners participated in the full marathon (42km), demonstrating the growing development and wide-reaching appeal of the marathon movement.

 

Vietnam’s U23 Asian Cup wins surpass rest of Southeast Asia combined

Vietnam have secured eight victories at the U23 Asian Cup, a tally that exceeds the combined win record of all other Southeast Asian nations in the tournament’s history.

Vietnam win against Kyrgyzstan, inches closer to U23 Asian Cup knockouts

The Golden Star Warriors took the lead early with a penalty from Khuat Van Khang, but Marlen Murzakhmatov equalised before the break for Kyrgyzstan, before Khristiyan Brauzman scored an own goal that brought victory to Vietnam.

 

Hanoi’s athletes, coaches honoured for great success at SEA Games 33

Addressing a ceremony to honour and reward coaches and athletes who achieved outstanding results at SEA Games 33 in Hanoi on January 7, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha stated that the municipal authorities have invested in world-class facilities, introduced support and reward policies for coaches and athletes, enabling them to train abroad, gain experience, and strengthen their competitiveness at international events.