Vietnam football team to enjoy home advantage if they reach 2026 ASEAN Cup final
Vietnam will have a major advantage in their title defense if they overcome Malaysia to reach the 2026 ASEAN Cup final, as they would play the second leg of the final at home.
Vietnam will enjoy a major advantage if they reach the 2026 ASEAN Cup final. Photo: Anh Khoa / Tuoi Tre News
Vietnam defeated Malaysia 2-0 away in the first leg of their semifinal in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday evening, giving head coach Kim Sang Sik and his players a strong advantage ahead of the return leg at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Wednesday.
Following the first leg, regional media were quick to predict that Vietnam would advance to the final. Their likely opponents are Thailand, who also secured a commanding away win, beating Singapore 3-1 in the first leg of the other semifinal.
Should Vietnam reach the final, they will host the decisive second leg, a significant boost to their bid to retain the regional title.
According to the tournament schedule, the first leg of the final will be played on August 22 at the home ground of the winner between Thailand and Singapore.
The return leg will take place on August 26 at the home venue of the winner between Vietnam and Malaysia.
Two years ago, Vietnam won the 2024 ASEAN Cup on Thai soil.
Kim Sang Sik's side beat Thailand 2-1 in the first leg of the final at Viet Tri Stadium before claiming a 3-2 victory in the return leg at Rajamangala Stadium in Thailand.
The 2026 ASEAN Cup runs from July 24 to August 26, with 10 teams divided into two groups.
Vietnam are in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste, while Group B features defending runners-up Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.
The semifinals began on August 15, when Singapore hosted Thailand at Yishun. Vietnam traveled to Kuala Lumpur to face Malaysia a day later.
Thailand will host Singapore in the second leg at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on August 18.
Vietnam will then face Malaysia in the return leg at My Dinh National Stadium at 8:00 pm on August 19.
As defending champions, Vietnam have been tasked with reaching the final and retaining their ASEAN Cup title.
Ngoc Nguyen - Hoai Du / Tuoi Tre News
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