The U23 Asia 2026 third-place playoff between Vietnam and South Korea is scheduled for 10 p.m. friday, 23/1, and will be broadcast on VnExpress.

Historically, Vietnamese national football teams have competed in two previous third-place matches at the Asian level. These include the U16 tournament in 2000, held in Da Nang, and the men's football competition at Asiad 18 in Indonesia. In the match 26 years ago, featuring players like Pham Van Quyen, Vietnam lost 2-4 to Japan. In the bronze medal match at Asiad 18 in 2018, coach Park Hang-seo's squad fell 3-4 to UAE in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.

Vietnam also reached the semifinals of the U19 Asia tournament in 2016 in Bahrain, where they lost 0-3 to Japan. However, that particular tournament did not feature a third-place match. Consequently, coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team was recognized as a top 4 finisher, an achievement that secured their qualification for the U20 World Cup 2017.

Le Viktor battles for the ball with a South Korean player at the U22 Panda Cup friendly tournament in Thanh Do city, Tu Xuyen province, China on 18/11/2025. YCNews

Having lost 0-3 to China in the semifinals on the evening of 20/1, Vietnam will not be able to replicate their runner-up performance from the U23 Asia 2018 under coach Park. Nevertheless, tomorrow's third-place match carries significant importance for the team.

Vietnam has never defeated South Korea at the U23 level across all competitions. The two teams have met 9 times, comprising six official matches and three friendlies. Vietnam has recorded three draws and six losses in these encounters. Their most recent matchup was at the Panda Cup friendly tournament in 11/2025 in China, where the team, led by coach Dinh Hong Vinh, suffered a 0-1 defeat.

When considering only official matches, Vietnam has one draw and five losses against South Korea. These include a 0-2 loss in the Asiad 15 group stage in 2006, another 0-2 defeat in the U23 Asia qualifiers in 2012, and 1-2 losses in both the U23 Asia qualifiers in 2017 and the U23 Asia 2018 group stage. They also lost 1-3 in the Asiad 18 semifinals and secured a 1-1 draw in the U23 Asia 2022 group stage.

Recent encounters, however, indicate a narrowing gap between the two teams. In the U23 Asia 2022 group stage, under coach Gong Oh-kyun, Vietnam famously secured a 1-1 draw thanks to a superb goal from defender Vu Tien Long.

Throughout the U23 Asia 2026 finals, Vietnam has scored 8 goals, while South Korea has netted 6. Both teams' defenses have conceded 6 goals. Coach Kim's team holds a slight advantage in shots (49-48), clean sheets (2-1), and corners (32-18). South Korea also boasts superior passing accuracy, with 85% compared to Vietnam's 80%.

According to Transfermarkt, South Korea's most valuable player in this tournament is center-back Shin Min-ha, valued at 700,000 USD. This valuation is equivalent to the combined worth of Vietnam's two most valuable players, Nguyen Dinh Bac and Khuat Van Khang. The total squad value for South Korea stands at 5.67 million USD, while Vietnam's squad is valued at 3.66 million USD.

For tomorrow evening's match, Vietnam will face several personnel challenges. Center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh is unavailable due to injury, Pham Ly Duc is suspended, and both Dinh Bac and Le Van Thuan are not at their optimal fitness levels.

Xuan Binh