Iran U23 has withdrawn from the friendly tournament in China, missing the chance to face Thailand U23 in March.
On 5 March 2026, as the ongoing Iran conflict nears its first week, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s expectation that it would conclude within 4–5 weeks, international security experts believe the situation could last longer if the Iranian government maintains its strength and responds more forcefully than anticipated.
Recently, the Chinese Football Association announced changes to the list of teams participating in the CFA Team China U23 2026 international youth football tournament, which will be held in Xi'an, China.
Vietnam U23 will join the tournament in place of Iran U23, as Iran was compelled to withdraw due to unavoidable reasons.
The competition is scheduled for 25–31 March 2026 in Xi'an, with four teams participating:
China U23 (host)
Vietnam U23
Thailand U23
North Korea U23
The Football Associations of Thailand and Vietnam have not yet confirmed any schedule changes.