Coach Hoang Anh Tuan is said to send in key players when he announces the lineup for the match on April 16, aiming to earn the first three points.

Key players such as goalkeepers Van Chuan and Van Viet, defenders Duy Cuong, Quang Thinh, Le Nguyen Hoang, and Van Cuong, and midfielders and strikers Van Khang, Thai Son, Nguyen Hoang, Dinh Bac and Quoc Viet are expected to be selected by the coach.

To prepare for match, Vietnamese players flew to Qatar one week early to get used to the field and weather conditions. They played a friendly match against Jordan on April 10 and conceded a 3-4 loss to the opponents after a penalty shootout.

U23 Vietnam finished second in 2018 and entered the quarterfinals in 2022 under the management of Korean coaches.

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan said U23 Vietnam are not the most powerful team in Group D that also includes Uzbekistan and Malaysia. “We know our strength and we plan to have a suitable playing style,” said he coach.

Meanwhile, U23 Kuwait have not played any friendly ahead of the tournament. The Kuwait Football Association has yet to set any specific goal for the team at this Asian Cup.  

Ahead of the tournament, U23 Kuwait have suffered four losses and three draws in their recent seven matches, including a 2-4 loss to Thailand or a 0-9 loss to the Republic of Korea.

The Vietnam – Kuwait match is scheduled to take place at 22.30 on April 17 (Vietnam time).