Coach Dinh Hong Vinh: First goal for Vietnam U23 at Asiad 2026 is to advance from the group stage

On the afternoon of September 14, 2026, at the pre-match press conference in Nagoya, coach Dinh Hong Vinh did not make grand promises. He only said: “The important first goal is to advance from the group stage, then we will think about further matters.” That statement is not excessive caution, but a deliberate way of managing expectations. Vietnam U23 are placed in Group C with Kuwait, the Philippines and Uzbekistan. The schedule has been confirmed: Kuwait on September 15, Philippines on September 18 and Uzbekistan on September 22. Three matches in seven days, played in Nagoya under hot and humid conditions, are a real physical challenge. The positive point lies in the order of opponents. Kuwait and the Philippines are the two matches where coach Dinh Hong Vinh’s side must collect points before meeting Uzbekistan. With a group structure containing three weaker rivals and one stronger candidate, this schedule allows Vietnam U23 to control their points tally before the final match. Schedule data shows that the chance of advancing is within reach, but only if the team avoids mistakes in the first two games. In terms of personnel, the squad has established a clear leadership structure: central defender Pham Ly Duc is captain, with three vice-captains including goalkeeper Cao Van Binh and two attacking players Nguyen Quoc Viet and Nguyen Thanh Nhan. Choosing a centre-back as captain rather than an attacking star shows that the team relies on defensive solidity as its foundation. Having three vice-captains in different lines is also a signal of a deliberately organized dressing room. What the analysis of the press conference does not provide is the specific tactical plan. There is no formation, no pressing data, no xG. But the preparation process described shows a methodical staff: professional meetings, video analysis, opponent study and tactical refinement. Also important is that the whole team visited the stadium while the organisers restricted training on the main pitch to protect the turf. A contrarian view: Vietnam U23’s problem may not be Uzbekistan, but the false sense of security created by the fixture order. When a team knows it still has two easier matches ahead, they may choose to play slowly and prioritise safety. But in a short tournament, points dropped in the opening match can become a psychological burden. The Kuwait match is therefore the one that defines the entire cycle of media pressure. Vietnam U23 enter the 2026 Asian Games with a clearly defined objective: to get out of the group. The team does not need to talk about going deeper. They need to prove it by handling the first match with full concentration. Nagoya in September is hot and humid, but football does not accept weather excuses. The match against Kuwait on September 15 is therefore not merely an opener, but the most accurate measure of the ambition of an entire campaign.