After Vietnam edged the UAE 3-2 to reach the semifinals on Jan. 17, social media posts and online reports suggested the winner would be awarded up to US$6 million, with large payouts also promised for the runners-up. The information quickly spread among fans, fueling speculation about record-breaking bonuses.
The VFF said those claims are incorrect.
According to official tournament regulations, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 does not include cash prizes, in line with previous editions. The champion will receive the trophy and 43 medals, while the second- and third-placed teams will also be awarded medals. Additional medals can be produced upon request, with the cost covered by the requesting team.
The tournament will also present a fair-play award, typically given to the team with the fewest disciplinary cards among the top four. Three individual honors will be awarded: Player of the Tournament, Top Scorer, and Best Goalkeeper.
Participating teams are responsible for their own airfare to Saudi Arabia and certain related expenses. The host nation covers accommodation and domestic transportation during the finals.
The Asian Football Confederation views youth tournaments, including the U17, U20 and U23 Asian Cups, primarily as development platforms rather than commercial events. Performance is evaluated based on technical quality, player growth and long-term contributions to national teams, rather than prize money or commercial returns.
Only senior continental tournaments, such as the men’s and women’s Asian Cups, offer prize money. At the 2023 Asian Cup, the champions received $5 million, the runners-up $3 million, and the two losing semifinalists $1 million each.
Despite the absence of official prize money, the VFF has so far awarded Vietnam’s U23 team VND3.1 billion ($118,000) in bonuses. That includes VND1.9 billion for the perfect group stage record and VND1.2 billion for the quarterfinal win.
Vietnam finished as runners-up at the U23 Asian Cup in 2018 under head coach Park Hang-seo and received around VND50 billion in bonuses from the VFF, state incentives and sponsors.
Under current head coach Kim Sang-sik, Vietnam’s U23 team has won all 15 latest official matches, claiming titles at the Southeast Asian U23 Championship and the 33rd SEA Games.
Vietnam will next face China in the semifinals scheduled for Jan. 20, while Japan face South Korea.
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