Vietnam had a convincing start in Group A of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, securing a 2-0 victory against Jordan in their opening match. This strong performance puts Vietnam in a favorable position, as even a draw against Kyrgyzstan would significantly boost their chances of advancing to the next stage.

Kyrgyzstan, making its debut in the tournament held in Saudi Arabia, faced a tough opening match. They played with ten men early on due to midfielder Arsen Sharshenbekov's red card in the 34th minute, eventually losing 0-1 to host Saudi Arabia in the 88th minute. Sharshenbekov's absence for the next two matches due to suspension is a significant loss for Kyrgyzstan.

Historically, Vietnam boasts a more extensive track record in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, having participated in the finals six consecutive times. The team was runner-up in the 2018 tournament and reached the quarterfinals in both 2022 and 2024. In terms of head-to-head encounters, including friendly matches, Vietnam has faced Kyrgyzstan three times. Besides a victory at Asiad 17, Vietnam defeated Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in a friendly match in the UAE on 17/10/2021, ahead of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 qualifiers. However, in their most recent encounter at the Doha Cup friendly tournament on 28/3/2023, the two teams drew 0-0, with Vietnam losing 4-5 in the penalty shootout.

Vietnamese players celebrate Dinh Bac's opening goal during their victory against Jordan in the first round of Group A at the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, held at King Abdullah Sports City Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6/1. *Photo: AFC*

Despite their strong start, Vietnam faces concerns regarding its squad strength. According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in addition to Nguyen Thanh Nhan, three Vietnamese players are dealing with injuries: Nguyen Xuan Bac, Nguyen Dinh Bac, and Khuat Van Khang. The decision to have Dinh Bac on the bench for tonight's match is likely a precaution.

Despite Sharshenbekov's suspension, Kyrgyzstan's core squad remains capable. Key players include goalkeeper Nurlanbekov, center-back Khristiyan Brauzman, and left-back captain Said Datsiev in defense. The midfield features Beknaz Almazbekov, who plays for Rukh Lviv in Ukraine and has appeared in 15 matches for the national team. Creative midfielder Kim Merk, a product of Germany's Kaiserlautern academy, is also a player the Vietnamese defense needs to watch closely.

Quang Dung - Vy Anh