Recall Nguyen Dinh Buck's boast as ASEAN king before leading Vietnam to an impressive showing reaching the U23 Asian Championship semifinals.
On 17 Jan 2025 GMT+7, recalling Nguyen Dinh Buck, the fourth top scorer of the U23 Asian Championship, who once declared at Rajamangala Stadium that Vietnam is the true king of ASEAN after claiming the 2025 SEA Games title, before creating an ASEAN sensation by leading Vietnam's U23 national team to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship quarterfinals in Saudi Arabia.
Nguyen Dinh Buck clearly stated, "I am very happy! Winning the championship on Thai soil is the best feeling. We have been champions in Indonesia before, and now champions in Thailand as well. We are the kings of ASEAN."
Vietnam advanced as the only ASEAN team to the quarterfinals with four straight wins since the group stage: three group wins to top Group A, then defeating the UAE in the quarterfinals. They await the winner between China and Uzbekistan, who will compete in their quarterfinal match this evening at 18:30 Thailand time.
6 Jan 2026 GMT+7: Faced Jordan U23, won 2-0.
9 Jan 2026 GMT+7: Faced Kyrgyzstan U23, won 2-1.
12 Jan 2026 GMT+7: Faced Saudi Arabia U23 (host), won 1-0.
16 Jan 2026 GMT+7: Faced UAE U23, won 3-2.