'Kim Sang-sik magic' exploded once again on the Asian stage. Vietnam football surprised everyone by posting a perfect record of three wins in the group stage. Before the tournament began, Vietnam was considered a dark horse at best, but once the matches started the atmosphere changed completely. No longer a challenger, it even emerged as a contender for the title.
The Vietnam U-23 national team coached by Kim Sang-sik beat hosts Saudi Arabia 1-0 on the 13th (Korea time) in the final match of Group A of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia needed points. They pressed throughout the match with the urgency of needing a home win. But the winner was Vietnam.
Vietnam's choice that day was clear. They did not recklessly counterattack. Instead, they endured Saudi Arabia's fierce pressure and waited for a single chance. Saudi Arabia drove the ball and tried to break Vietnam throughout the match, but Vietnam did not collapse. On the contrary, a steady defensive focus remained intact.
Finally in the 19th minute of the second half, the awaited moment came. Nguyen Dinh Bach pushed a left-foot shot into the net from a situation with little angle to score the winning goal. Vietnam then held on for the remaining time. And that resistance was not mere defending, but a victory completed by organization, fitness and concentration.
With this win Vietnam recorded three wins and nine points and advanced to the quarterfinals as group leader. They beat Jordan 2-0 in the first match and defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-1. Finally toppling Saudi Arabia as well, they ended the group stage with 'three straight wins.' On paper Jordan and Saudi Arabia were considered a step above, but Kim Sang-sik's Vietnam overturned that assessment on the field.
Local reaction in Vietnam was excited after the match. VietnamNet reported, "The Vietnam U-23 national team received praise from the AFC as a perfect and resilient team," and added, "They continued an unbeaten run in the group stage and received rare high praise from the AFC, regional rivals and even FIFA." It was more than simply saying they were 'good.' The message that Vietnam is a complete team was repeated.
VietnamNet continued, "Vietnam set an unprecedented record by taking first place in the group with three wins and nine points. This is the first time in the history of the Vietnam U-23 national team," and added, "The AFC also immediately took notice. The Vietnam led by Kim Sang-sik is no longer weak but a strong contender for the title."
In fact the AFC's reaction was not simple either. The AFC's official channel left a short but strong assessment after the match, calling them "perfect and resilient Vietnam." The AFC had been watching Vietnam even before the tournament. There was also an assessment that "the Vietnam led by Kim Sang-sik is a strong contender for the title. Many people underestimated Vietnam in the matchup with Jordan, but the results turned out to be completely opposite." It is now a trend that is hard to explain with the word 'upset.'
A new Southeast Asian history was also made. Vietnam scored five goals and conceded only one in this tournament. The result was three wins. And as these victories accumulated, Vietnam set a new regional record for most wins with seven tournament wins (nine wins including penalty shootouts). This is why VietnamNet confidently declared, "There is no team in Southeast Asia that can match Vietnam."
After the match coach Kim Sang-sik credited the players. He said, "Before arriving in Saudi Arabia I could not have imagined the players would dedicate themselves and show such fighting spirit for the team. They are truly amazing players," emphasizing the squad's concentration and attitude. But Vietnam's local view of Kim Sang-sik's stature is greater. They judge that it was not only the players performing well, but the coach who unified the team.
VietnamNet said, "The Vietnam U-23 national team led by Kim Sang-sik has remained unbeaten in every match. He created a team that combines grit and precision," and emphasized, "His tactical ability was also impressive. Vietnam stood firm despite Saudi Arabia's 26 shots." The numbers favored Saudi Arabia, but Vietnam controlled the framework and the decisive moments of the match.
Another notable aspect was rotation management. VietnamNet explained, "Kim Sang-sik rested Dinh Bach and Nguyen Le Phat on the bench to manage the players' fatigue, but the team maintained solid defense and sharp mentality." As the tournament progresses and endurance battles grow, this management could become an even greater asset going forward.
Even Southeast Asian rivals acknowledged it. Siam Sport wrote, "The Vietnam U-23 national team is on a different level. They completely controlled the match while resting key players," expressing admiration. VietnamNet also reported, "Thai fans wrote that there is much Thailand can learn from Vietnam and that Vietnam has surpassed us, and Indonesian fans initially doubted Vietnam but were astonished by their calm and confident display against Saudi Arabia. They wrote that it was truly admirable." It is rare to see rival fans applaud.
Kim Sang-sik is once again creating a Korean coach syndrome in Vietnam. Starting with the 2024 Southeast Asian Football Championship (Mitsubishi Cup), he made history by winning three major Southeast Asian tournaments—the AFF U-23 Championship and the SEA Games—achieving a regional treble. Vietnam football has not been this hot since former coach Park Hang-seo.
Now Kim Sang-sik's team's next opponent is likely to be the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Syria, who are competing for second place in Group B. If the two teams draw, the UAE will face Vietnam in the quarterfinals. Whoever the opponent, Vietnam has become a team that inspires anticipation rather than fear.
By contrast, Korea's mood is the opposite. The Korea U-23 national team coached by Lee Min-seong advanced to the quarterfinals as second in Group C, but they were pushed to the brink of elimination after a 0-2 defeat by Uzbekistan, who are two years younger, in the final group match. At the same time Lebanon's 1-0 win over Iran helped them survive by the skin of their teeth. Their record is one win, one draw and one loss. Unlike Vietnam, which topped its group on merit, Korea barely survived by relying on various scenarios. On the same stage of the same tournament, the two teams accepted completely different fates.
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