Việt Nam’s U20 team are in Group B of the 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup. Photo VFF

Football

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's U20 team have been drawn into Group B of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U20 Asian Cup, where they will face tough rivals in the form of Iran, Qatar and Australia. 

Competing in this group is a massive challenge for Việt Nam as Iran are four-time champions of the tournament while Australia were the runners-up in 2010 after reaching the semi-finals in 2008 and 2012. Qatar won the championship in 2014 and made it to the semi-finals in 2018.

The 2023 tournament will take place in Uzbekistan between March 1-18 next year, with 16 teams playing in the tournament. They were drawn into four round-robin groups. The first and second teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The four winners in the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals and also secure a place in the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia as the AFC representatives, alongside Indonesia who automatically qualify as hosts. 

If Indonesia reach the semi-finals, a play-off round will occur between the two best losing quarter-finalists, the winner of which will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup.

The 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup will be the 41st edition of the tournament, including previous editions of the AFC Youth Championship and the AFC U-19 Championship.

Việt Nam are led by coach Đinh Thế Nam, who helped the U19 team finish third in the Southeast Asia football championship and finish first in the runners-up group in the qualifying round of the AFC U20 Asian Cup.

According to Nam, Việt Nam can cause an upset if they prepare well enough.

“Football always contains surprises, especially youth football. If Việt Nam prepare well in terms of personnel, expertise and physical strength, maybe the team can make a surprise,” said Nam.

Việt Nam will face Australia on March 1, Qatar on March 4 and then Iran on March 7, 2023. All matches will take place at the Istiqlol Stadium. VNS