ASIAD 2026 begins today: Football starts before opening ceremony, Vietnam targets 4-6 golds

Today (September 14, 2026), the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 2026) officially begins its first days of competition in Japan. Notably, 8 sports, including football, will compete before the torch-lighting opening ceremony—a scheduling move to ease fixture congestion. Men's and women's football start group stages on September 14 and 15. The Vietnam women's football team is designated as the pioneer representative of the Vietnam contingent, playing earliest. Meanwhile, Vietnam's men's football—typically an U-23 tournament with limited overage slots—has yet to disclose its squad, but the risk of clubs withholding overage players because the Asian Games falls outside the FIFA calendar remains high, analogous to the absence of NBA stars in basketball. In basketball, analysis points to the absence of top stars: Yang Hansen (China), Rui Hachimura (Japan), Yuki Kawamura (Japan), and Jordan Clarkson (Philippines)—all currently playing in the NBA. Despite this, organizers assert that basketball competitiveness remains very high. Host Japan will close the first competition day against Indonesia, consistent with the host being placed in a prime-time slot. The Vietnam delegation includes nearly 500 members (348 elite athletes) and targets 4-6 gold medals—an ambitious goal compared to 3 golds at the 19th ASIAD (Hangzhou) and 4 at the 18th (Jakarta). However, the programme is reduced to 43 sports with 469 events (12 fewer than Hangzhou), potentially narrowing medal opportunities for mid-tier contingents like Vietnam. Tactical analysis highlights that ASIAD 2026 is a multi-sport event where football and basketball are not the sole focus. For men's football, the event's placement outside the FIFA window means clubs have no obligation to release players, risking degraded quality if overage players are withheld. This directly affects competitiveness. The article also notes that the Vietnam women's football team, as the first to compete, faces immense media pressure. A poor result early could cast a negative tone over the entire delegation. Meanwhile, the men's team has not been confirmed with an optimal roster. Governance-wise, the reduction of 12 events reflects host/OCA budget control, not a quality drop. Mid-tier delegations need focused strategies on strength events to maximize gold opportunities. Overall, ASIAD 2026 promises an exciting start, especially with pre-ceremony sports. Vietnamese fans will follow every step of their delegation, beginning with the women's football opener.