China U23 Men’s Team Reaches Asian Cup Final After 22 Years! 5 Clean Sheets, Final vs Japan

On January 21, in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup semifinal, China U23 defeated Vietnam 3-0, reaching the final for the first time in history, where they will face Japan for the championship.

During the group stage, China remained unbeaten: 0-0 vs Iraq, 1-0 vs Australia, 0-0 vs Thailand—scoring 1 goal and conceding none, marking their first quarterfinal berth. In the quarterfinals, they drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan after 120 minutes and won 4-2 on penalties, continuing their historic run.

In the semifinal against Vietnam, coach Antonio rotated 6 starters with remarkable effect. Peng Xiao scored again, Xiang Yuwang netted his first goal with a CR7-style “SIUU” celebration, Vietnam’s No.3 received a red card, and Wang Yudong added a late goal—3-0 victory.

China U23 set multiple records:
1️⃣ First-ever Asian Cup final appearance in team history.
2️⃣ Chinese men’s football reaches Asian Cup final for the first time in 22 years (last in 2004, runner-up).
3️⃣ Third team in history to reach the final as a fourth-seed team (after Iraq 2013, Vietnam 2018).
4️⃣ 5 matches, 0 goals conceded.
5️⃣ First time a team reaches the final without conceding in a continental tournament.
6️⃣ Scored 3 goals in one match, more than the total from previous four games.

In the final, China will face Japan, who defeated South Korea in the semifinal. A win would secure China’s first U23 Asian Cup title!