Head-to-head history between Vietnam and South Korea in ASIAD men's football. Graphic: Hieu Luong (AI-assisted)

The match is scheduled for 17:30 Hanoi time (19:30 local time) on 25/9 at Mizuho Park Rugby in Nagoya. Vietnam finished second in Group C, while South Korea topped Group D and is aiming for its fourth consecutive ASIAD championship.

South Korea demonstrated superior strength in the group stage. Coach Lee Min-sung's team defeated Qatar 4-1 and then Saudi Arabia 2-0, scoring six goals and conceding only one. With only three teams remaining in Group D after Iraq's withdrawal, South Korea also played one fewer match than Vietnam, gaining a physical advantage. Vietnam earned four points from three matches, drawing 1-1 with Kuwait, defeating the Philippines 2-0, and then losing 0-2 to Uzbekistan.

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's team also draws confidence from their most recent encounter. In the U23 Asian Cup bronze medal match in January, Vietnam took the lead two times, were equalized 2-2 in injury time despite having only 10 men, and then won 7-6 in a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Cao Van Binh saved South Korea's seventh penalty, helping Vietnam secure its first bronze medal in the tournament.

Vietnam (red shirts) drew 2-2 with South Korea, then won 7-6 on penalties in the U23 Asian Cup 2026 bronze medal match, at King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia on 23/1. Photo: AFC

This result, however, cannot obscure the squad disparity. Vietnam's ASIAD squad lacks some key players who participated in the U23 Asian Cup, while South Korea has brought a deep squad to Japan. The rematch thus demands that Vietnam play with more discipline, greater efficiency, and almost no individual errors.

Beyond the title, winning ASIAD also provides South Korean players with an exemption from mandatory military service, which typically lasts from 21 to 24 months for males aged 18 to 35. This law, established in 1981, applies to athletes who win a gold medal at ASIAD or any medal at the Olympic Games. This creates a mutual benefit, enhancing national prestige through international competition while allowing athletes to preserve the prime years of their careers.

ASIAD history also heavily favors South Korea. Vietnam previously lost to this opponent 0-4 in 1998, 0-2 in 2006, and 1-3 in the 2018 semi-finals. The tournament in Indonesia eight years ago marked Vietnam's deepest run, achieving fourth place overall.

Vy Anh