In its recently-published article looking back on the highlights of the previous tournament in China in early 2018, in which the "Golden Stars" surprisingly but convincingly finished runners-up. 

Vietnam players faced the extreme weather challenge in the historic final in Changzhou last year.

In the AFC article, Vietnam U23s were one of the most mentioned teams in the 2018 tournament. It was also the first magical journey of Vietnamese football under coach Park Hang-seo, and also marks the beginning of Vietnam’s consecutive following feats over the last two successful years. 

Therefore, AFC said that Vietnamese football has grown from their feat in China last year, thereby becoming one of the heavyweights to compete for the championship title in the tournament to be held in Thailand early next year.

Vietnamese football has changed a lot under the hands of coach Park Hang-seo to grab more success. “Vietnam, meanwhile, have gone from strength to strength since, winning the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation Championship and reaching the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-finals,” AFC wrote. 

Therefore, the continental largest football management body said that, along with defending champions Uzbekistan, Vietnam under the guidance of Park “will consider themselves strong candidates to win the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 and, with it, advance to the Tokyo Olympics later in the year.”

After nearly two years, the players who were part of the historic feat in Changzhou have experienced many successes in various tournaments with Park. 

Quang Hai contributed the most to Vietnam U23s’ miracle run at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

Several important faces in the runner-up team in the 2018 tournament will continue to accompany their juniors in the upcoming tournament next year, including Quang Hai. Two years after the feat in China, Quang Hai has affirmed his talent at both club and national levels, from U22, U23 to the national senior squads.

On January 1, 2020, the squad will set off to Thailand for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship. According to the plan, Park’s side will have one last rehearsal with a final friendly with Bahrain U23s on January 3 next year.

On January 10, Vietnam will officially kick-off their Thai campaign with the Group D opener against the UAE, before facing Jordan on January 13. The reigning runners-up will wrap up their group stage with a match against DPR Korea on January 16.

SEA Games 30: Vietnam win long-awaited gold in men’s football

Vietnam won the first-ever Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal after defeating their Indonesian rivals 3-0 in the final match in the Philippines on December 10.

Vietnam Airlines to increase flights to Philippines for football fans

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced on December 7 that it will have six more flights to Manila on December 10 to serve football fans, who want to watch the finals of SEA Games 30's men football between Vietnam and Indonesia.

SEA Games 30: Vietnam’s female football team wins gold medal

The Vietnamese female football players became the champion of women’s football at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines after defeating Thailand 1-0 on December 8, successfully defending their gold medal.

SEA Games 30: Vietnam advance to football final

Vietnam advanced to the final of the men’s football at the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30) in the Philippines, after beating Cambodian rivals 4-0 in the semi-final match on December 7.

Vietnam women enter SEA Games football’s final with win over Philippines

Vietnam’s women’s football team have advanced to the finals of SEA Games 30' women football by defeating the hosts Philippines 2-0 on December 5.

Source: NDO