Vietnam's U23 team will begin its 2026 Asian Games campaign against Kuwait on September 15 after naming a 23-player squad. According to the VFF, the players are due to assemble on September 12 and travel to Japan the following day.
Assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh has been assigned to lead the team because the Asian Games overlap with the senior national side's FIFA ASEAN Cup commitments. The selection combines players with international experience and several members of the U21 age group.
Vietnam will also face the Philippines on September 18 and Uzbekistan on September 22 in Group C. The top two teams qualify for the quarterfinals, making all three fixtures important to the team's chances of progressing.
Preparations included a friendly tournament in China in March and a short training camp in late July. Those gatherings allowed the coaching staff to assess the available players before finalising the squad for the Games.
The VFF said the use of younger players also supports preparations for 2027 competitions, including Asian U23 qualifying, the SEA Games and the Southeast Asian U23 tournament. After the Asian Games, the squad is expected to resume activities during the November international window in Gia Lai.
Read more about the Vietnam U23 squad in our Vietnam national-team hub.