Against North Korea and Vietnam, the U23 Chinese national team also faces a tough challenge.

Written by Han Bing. How formidable is this Thailand U23 team, which led the Chinese U23 team to a 0-2 deficit in the first half?

This Thailand U23 squad had 10 players who participated in the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year. Five of them started this match, including winger Wandi, who assisted twice from the right flank after starting this game (he was a substitute in the Asian Cup), helping Mamah and Selaw score against the Chinese U23 team. After adjustments in the second half, the Chinese U23 team dominated and equalized, but the Thailand U23 team's defensive counterattacks and technical skills were still impressive. Objectively, this Thailand U23 team's strength has declined compared to the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year; their rebuilt defense lacks physicality, but they are far from being a so-called "third-tier team." Like China, Thailand U23 has also restructured its team early for future competitions. This match provided significant training value for both China and Thailand.

The Chinese U23 team failed to secure a win in its opening match and will now face the strong North Korean and Vietnamese U23 teams. Both teams drew 1-1 in their first match, with the North Korean U23 team dominating but also failing to win. Compared to the Thailand U23 team, which had a less complete roster than during the U23 Asian Cup, the North Korean U23 team boasts several current national team players. The Vietnamese U23 team is essentially a U21 squad, with four players who participated in the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year and two naturalized players. For the Chinese U23 team to achieve consecutive wins, it may prove equally challenging.

The North Korean U23 team visiting China primarily consists of U23 players, preparing for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September. Their coach, Kim Yong-jun, previously played for Yanbian Funde and Chengdu Sheffield United, making him one of the few North Korean foreign players in Chinese professional leagues. After retiring, he served as an assistant coach for North Korea's U17 and U23 teams and led the North Korean team in the Asian Cup in early 2019.

The North Korean U23 team includes several current national team players who participated in the 18-team qualification stage: center-back captain Kim Yoo-sung, Jeong Hui-nam, left-back Kim Sung-hye, right-back Choi Ryong-il, defensive midfielder Ro Myong-song, attacking midfielder Choi Guk, midfielder Kim Jin-chon, and left-winger Lee Il-song. Lee Il-song is the main left-winger for the North Korean national team; Kim Sung-hye and Ro Myong-song were key players in the last four matches of the 18-team stage last year, bringing extensive national team experience. Defenders Jeong Eun-hyok, Lee Sung-woong, Han Jae-yong, and forward Choi Guk participated in the 2025 U20 Asian Cup, where the North Korean U20 team finished bottom of their group with one draw and two losses, failing to advance.

The youngest player in the North Korean U23 team, Jeong Eun-hyok, is only 19 years old. Additionally, they brought five overage players for training, including North Korean national team main goalkeeper Kang Ju-hyok, midfielder Kim Guk-bom, left-winger Kim Guk-jin, right-winger Baek Cheong-song, and center-forward Lee Jo-guk. However, due to being overage, they cannot play, leaving the North Korean U23 team with only 18 eligible players.

In their first match against the Vietnamese U23 team, despite having an average starting age almost two years older, the North Korean U23 team conceded an early goal in the 6th minute due to a defensive error, scored by Vietnam's Nguyen Minh Tam. After Vietnam U23 substituted their naturalized player Tran Thanh Trung, key player Nguyen Cong Phuong, and Nguyen Minh Tam in the second half, North Korea U23 equalized in the 70th minute. This North Korean U23 team did not display superior competitive form, and two players were injured in the first match, potentially causing a personnel crisis for their Saturday match against the Chinese U23 team.

The Vietnamese U23 team replaced the Iranian U23 team in this tournament. Because head coach Kim Sang-sik is leading the Vietnamese team in the Asian Cup qualifiers, assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh is leading the squad for the Xi'an Four Nations Tournament. The Vietnamese U23 team is built around U21 players; all 25 players are born after 2005, with eight born after 2006. The youngest, third goalkeeper Hua Chun Tin, is only 18. Captain goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, substitute goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai, key midfielder Le Van Thuan, and Nguyen Cong Phuong participated in the U23 Asian Cup earlier this year. In the semifinal against the Chinese U23 team, Nguyen Cong Phuong started on the right flank, and Le Van Thuan substituted in the second half, playing for about thirty minutes.

The Vietnamese U23 team focuses on developing young players. Only goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, defenders Le Nguyen Hoang, Nguyen Bao Long, midfielders Nguyen Cong Phuong, Le Van Thuan, Le Dinh Long Vu, and forward Nguyen Dang Duong have made over 10 appearances for Vietnam's U20 and U23 teams; 13 players have zero prior appearances. Notable is the wing talent Le Dinh Long Vu, who will turn 20 in May. In 2023, he was listed by the UK's Guardian among the "60 Future World Stars." At just 17 years old in August that year, he was exceptionally selected for the Vietnamese U23 team. Le Dinh Long Vu has balanced left and right foot skills, excellent speed, and dribbling, capable of playing on both wings. He and Nguyen Cong Phuong are considered among the most talented players of Vietnam's current generation.

The Vietnamese U23 team also has two notable naturalized players: 21-year-old Vietnamese-Russian winger Vadim Nguyen, who came from the Russian Premier League club FC Rostov's youth system, and 20-year-old midfielder Tran Thanh Trung, a Vietnamese descendant born in Bulgaria, from the Sofia Slavia youth system. Previously, he was selected for all Bulgaria's youth national teams from U17 to U21, participating in the 2022 U17 European Championship, and completed his nationality transfer last August. In the first match against North Korea U23, Tran Thanh Trung started, while Vadim Nguyen substituted but was injured and replaced. Comparatively, the Vietnamese U21 team showed some highlights in their first match, but overall strength is slightly lacking due to their younger age. The match between China U23 and Vietnam U23 will occur in the final round, where both teams will compete not only in overall capability but also in team cohesion after two previous matches.