ASIAD 2026 men's football quarterfinals: Vietnam face South Korea, Thailand meet China

The group stage of the men's football tournament at the 2026 Asian Games has officially ended after the final round of matches in Groups A and B. The four quarterfinal pairings have been fully confirmed: Vietnam will face South Korea, Uzbekistan will meet Saudi Arabia on September 25 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium; Thailand will play China, and Japan will face North Korea on September 26 at Toyota Stadium. Southeast Asia still has two representatives, East Asia has four, while Central Asia and West Asia each have one team remaining. In Group A, Japan and Thailand had already secured qualification after winning their first two matches against Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong. The direct meeting in the final round was mainly to decide first place. Japan dominated possession with 62 percent, constantly applied pressure and finished with 25 shots, seven of which were on target. Thailand could hardly organize attacks and managed only one shot. Japan scored three goals, finished the group stage with a perfect record and took top spot. Even without using their strongest lineup, Japan showed impressive squad depth. Rotating players helped the East Asian side save energy for the quarterfinals, but it also raised questions about cohesion against North Korea. Group B was highly dramatic. Iran and China led the group with four points before the final round, while North Korea and the UAE had one point each. Iran controlled their own destiny and took the lead in the 17th minute through an own goal from Ri Song-hung. North Korea then fought back strongly. From the 41st to the 68th minute, Cheo Kuk, Ra Myong-song and Paek Chung-song scored. Ra Myong-song scored twice, while Cheo Kuk and Paek Chung-song each added one goal to seal a 4-1 comeback win. In the simultaneous match, China drew 0-0 with the UAE. These results gave China top spot with five points, while North Korea finished second with four points, ahead of Iran on goal difference plus two compared to minus one. In Group C, Uzbekistan showed outstanding strength. The Central Asian side beat the Philippines 5-1, Kuwait 2-0 and Vietnam 2-0 to finish first. Vietnam took second place after drawing 1-1 with Kuwait and beating the Philippines 2-0. The results reflected a competitive balance: Uzbekistan had a sharp attack, while Vietnam chose a more solid approach but still did enough to progress. In Group D, South Korea won all their matches, scoring six goals and conceding only one. Saudi Arabia finished second after beating Qatar 2-0 and losing 0-2 to South Korea. Men's football has a special place in the Asian Games. Looking at medal history, South Korea are the most successful team with six gold medals in 2026, 2026, 2026, 2026, 2026 and 2026, plus three silver medals and three bronze medals. Japan won the title in 2026, finished second three times and third twice. North Korea won the title in 2026 and have two silver medals. Uzbekistan also won gold in 2026 and added a bronze in 2026. China have one silver medal from 2026 and two bronze medals. Saudi Arabia have one silver medal from 2026 and one bronze from 2026. Notably, in 2026 South Korea and North Korea were both declared champions after a 0-0 draw, even though penalty-kick rules had been approved by FIFA but organizers decided not to use them. For the two Southeast Asian teams, history still leaves room for ambition. Thailand finished fourth in 2026, 2026, 2026 and 2026 but have never won a medal. Vietnam reached the semifinals in 2026 and finished fourth, also without a medal. So the quarterfinal place this year means a great deal to both teams. For Vietnam, facing South Korea is the most difficult challenge of the tournament. For Thailand, the match against China is a chance to improve their record. The Vietnam-South Korea match will be played at Paloma Mizuho Stadium. Vietnam will meet the team with the best record in Asian Games football history. South Korea were solid in the group stage, scoring many goals and conceding only once. This is a big test for Vietnam's defense. Vietnam's strengths are discipline, fast transitions and fighting spirit. Looking back at the 2026 Asian Games, Vietnam made a strong impression by reaching the semifinals. This match is not just a chance to fight for a medal but also a chance to measure the progress of Vietnamese youth football. The Uzbekistan-Saudi Arabia tie may attract less attention, but it is very interesting. Uzbekistan showed attacking power with a big win over the Philippines. Saudi Arabia had a difficult start after losing to South Korea, but beating Qatar secured their place. This match could be decided by finishing and defensive solidity. The Thailand-China match will be played at Toyota Stadium. Thailand came through the group stage without showing much attacking pressure against Japan. The key point is that they kept energy for the decisive match. China were stable in Group B, finishing top without losing. The match is expected to be balanced because neither team has a dominant superstar, but both are well organized. Thailand need to improve their finishing to cause an upset. The Japan-North Korea tie has historical meaning. Japan won the title in 2026, while North Korea won in 2026. Japan's style is based on possession and control, while North Korea showed stamina and the ability to come from behind. If Japan keep the rhythm they showed against Thailand, they will control most of the game. But if North Korea score first, the match could change direction. Statistics show that East Asia has a clear advantage in the medal table. All four quarterfinalists from East Asia have won medals at previous editions. South Korea have the most gold medals, Japan have squad depth, and North Korea always have a tough mentality. China have not won a medal in recent years but remain a well-organized and physically strong team. The four quarterfinals promise to be intense. For Vietnam, the match against South Korea is a chance to write a new chapter. For Thailand, the match against China is an opportunity to end a history of near misses. For Japan, North Korea, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, every team has a reason to believe in a semifinal place. The answers will be decided on the pitch.