(Live Football) - Vietnam U23 will play their opening match of CFA Team China – Xi'an 2026 against North Korea U23.
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Vietnam U23 Starting Lineup:
Vietnam U23 will begin their CFA Team China 2026 campaign against North Korea U23 – an opponent considered the biggest "unknown" of the tournament. In recent years, this team has rarely appeared in international competitions, making information gathering and analysis extremely limited. This element of mystery makes the match unpredictable, despite past encounters where Vietnam U23 often faced difficulties, including a 1-2 loss at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2020. Against an opponent with scarce data, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh and his team are likely to focus on refining their tactics and maximizing their own capabilities.
For this training camp, Vietnam U23 brought to China a squad largely composed of young players born between 2005 and 2007. This is a strategic decision by the coaching staff, as many key players from previous years are now over the U23 age limit or have moved up to the national team. Therefore, the Xi'an tournament does not prioritize results but aims to build a foundation for the next generation.
The squad list reflects this direction, retaining only a few players who participated in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, such as goalkeeper Phạm Đình Hải, Cao Văn Bình, and midfielders Nguyễn Công Phương and Lê Văn Thuận. Alongside them are players with U23-level experience like Lê Nguyên Hoàng, Thái Bá Đạt, Nguyễn Quang Vinh, and Lê Đình Long Vũ, plus many promising new faces.
Through the CFA Team China 2026 tournament, the coaching staff will have the opportunity to thoroughly review and evaluate the young squad. The key goal is to identify suitable talents to strengthen the team for the upcoming ASIAD 2026 in September. This is considered a pivotal phase in the transition process, requiring meticulous preparation both technically and mentally.
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