U23 Vietnam draws 1-1 with U23 Kuwait in ASIAD 2026 opener

U23 Vietnam drew 1-1 against U23 Kuwait in their opening Group C match of the ASIAD 2026 men's football tournament in Nagoya, Japan. Despite dominating possession and recording 27 shots, the Vietnamese side struggled with clinical finishing, hitting the woodwork multiple times. Almatar Omar scored for Kuwait in the 79th minute, but Ngoc My equalized for Vietnam in the 82nd minute.

Head coach Dinh Hong Vinh expressed satisfaction with his players' spirit and determination despite the short preparation time and heavy rain during the match. He noted that the team must improve their ability to convert chances, as they only managed one goal from numerous attempts. The team now faces a critical path to the quarterfinals, with upcoming matches against Philippines and Uzbekistan.

In preparation for the tournament, the Vietnamese sports delegation arrived in Nagoya to begin their campaign. Security for the ASIAD 2026 opening ceremony in Japan is being heavily reinforced, with authorities deploying 10,000 police officers and utilizing AI technology to monitor for potential threats and unauthorized drone activity.