Vietnam U23 Draw 1-1 With Qatar to Win the Gia Lai VTV Cup Unbeaten
Nguyen Minh Tam equalised just after half-time in Pleiku, giving the hosts the point they needed for the title.
What happened
Vietnam's under-23 team drew 1-1 with Qatar at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai on Saturday 14 November 2026 and won the Gia Lai VTV Cup 2026, an international friendly tournament. The hosts needed only a draw and finished first with seven points from three matches.
Qatar, who had to win to take the title, led after 20 minutes. Al Rawi broke clear on the right and shot across goalkeeper Cao Van Binh. Thanh Nien and Hanoi Moi reported that the ball hit the post and went in off Faragalla; Nhan Dan credited the goal to Al Rawi.
Vietnam equalised just after half-time. Substitute Williams Minh Hoang crossed from the right, Qatar's defence failed to clear, and Nguyen Minh Tam finished. Thanh Nien and Hanoi Moi timed the goal in the 48th minute, Nhan Dan in the 47th.
Minh Hoang later left the pitch on a stretcher and was replaced by Nguyen Quoc Toan. Cao Van Binh saved a long-range shot in the 77th minute to keep the score level.
Why it matters
The tournament is part of Vietnam's work with its next under-23 generation under coach Dinh Hong Vinh. His team went through it unbeaten, with two wins and a draw, five goals scored and one conceded. Minh Tam scored three of the five: two in the 3-0 win over Thailand and the equaliser against Qatar.
Key facts and numbers
- Score: Vietnam U23 1-1 Qatar U23.
- Goals: Al Rawi 20' (Qatar); Nguyen Minh Tam 48' (Vietnam).
- Vietnam's results: 3-0 v Thailand, 1-0 v Singapore, 1-1 v Qatar.
- Final table: Vietnam 7 points, Qatar 5. Thanh Nien reported that Thailand finished third with 3.
- Prize: the champions receive 2.6 billion dong under the tournament rules, according to Thanh Nien.
