Vietnam will face UAE at 22:30 on Friday, 16/1. The match will be broadcast on VnExpress.

"I want the quarterfinal match to conclude in the two regular halves, with Vietnam emerging victorious," Le Viktor stated before the afternoon training session on 14/1. "Our mindset, determination, and strategy must be thoroughly prepared for this match."

Vietnam advanced to the quarterfinals as the Group A winner, after defeating Jordan 2-0, Kyrgyzstan 2-1, and host Saudi Arabia 1-0. UAE finished second in Group B, securing a 2-0 win against Qatar, a 0-3 loss to Japan, and a 1-1 draw with Syria.

Vietnamese midfielder Le Viktor (in white) during the 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia in the final group A match of the U23 Asia 2026 Finals, at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 12/1/2026. *Photo: AFC*

With a demanding schedule of one match every three days, some Vietnamese players are showing signs of fatigue and minor injuries. In contrast, UAE, despite having fewer rest days, is considered to have superior physical fitness and endurance.

Le Viktor shared that he and the entire team watched UAE play Syria on television, while coach Kim Sang-sik and other coaching staff members attended the match live at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. "The U23 Asia tournament gathers strong teams, and UAE possesses unique strengths in both defense and attack. Vietnam also has its strengths, and we will do our utmost to overcome them," the midfielder born in 2003 affirmed.

During the group stage, Le Viktor was a substitute in the first two matches. He then started in the match against Saudi Arabia before being substituted early in the second half. He, along with Nguyen Cong Phuong and Nguyen Ngoc My, was tasked with constant movement to press opponents. The midfielder hopes he met coach Kim Sang-sik's requirements and wishes to play for a certain period to support his teammates and contribute to securing the best possible result against UAE.

Historically, UAE holds an advantage in the head-to-head record with four wins and four draws in eight matches. Among these, five were official matches: a 0-0 draw at Asiad 14 in 2002, a 3-1 win in the round of 16 at Asiad 17 in 2014, a 3-2 victory in the U23 Asia 2016 group stage, a 1-1 draw (4-3 on penalties) in the bronze medal match at Asiad 18 in 2018, and a 0-0 draw in the U23 Asia 2020 group stage. In the two most recent friendly matches in 2022 and 2023, UAE also won 3-0 and 4-0 respectively.

Hieu Luong