Naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son challenges midfielder Minh Khoa for the ball during a training session. Photo: VFF
Vietnam will face the Philippines at 7:30 pm in Bandung in their opening Group B match.
With only the group winner advancing to the final, Vietnam are targeting three points before a crucial clash with Thailand on September 29.
“Even though Vietnam have won every match under my management, I see everything as a fresh start at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, and I will try to win the title for the first time,” Kim said.
Philippines reinforce squad
The Philippines have reinforced their squad with a host of overseas-based players for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, as they head into the Vietnam clash seeking to end a 12-year winless run against their Southeast Asian rivals.
After the Philippines endured an early exit from the ASEAN Cup 2026 with a largely U23 squad, head coach Carles Cuadrat brought in 14 new players for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, including nine based in Europe and the U.S.
Among them are strikers Bjorn Kristensen of Norway’s KFUM Oslo and Sebastian Rasmussen of Denmark’s Hobro IK.
Vietnam, however, have dominated the matchup in recent years.
The Philippines have not beaten Vietnam since the 2014 AFF Cup, losing six of their seven meetings and drawing the other.
Their most recent encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in the Philippines during the group stage of the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
The Philippines U23 team, featuring several senior internationals, also recently lost to Vietnam U23 in the group stage of the 2026 Asian Games.
Kim Sang Sik weighs lineup changes
Despite several key absences and limited preparation time, Vietnam still have most of their core players available, giving head coach Kim Sang Sik room to reshape his lineup for the Philippines clash.
Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik (R) during a training session. Photo: Anh Khoa / Tuoi Tre
Vietnam’s football team enter the tournament without Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, and Doan Van Hau for various reasons, while captain Nguyen Hoang Duc has been training separately in Indonesia and is unlikely to feature in the opener.
The team have had just three training sessions ahead of the match: one in Hanoi and two in Bandung.
Despite the disruptions, the South Korean coach still has most of his core players available.
Nguyen Dinh Bac and Nguyen Xuan Son, who shared the ASEAN Cup 2026 Golden Boot with five goals each, are expected to remain Vietnam’s main attacking threats.
In fact, a victory over the Philippines is not the only thing on the minds of Vietnam’s players and supporters. What experts and fans are more eager to see is how head coach Kim Sang Sik will reshape his lineup amid absences in defense and midfield.
Another question is whether Vietnam will adopt a more attacking approach by giving young newcomers such as Khoa Ngo and Williams Minh Hoang opportunities to make an impact.
Kim Sang Sik may well have a surprise in store for fans when Vietnam open their campaign against the Philippines.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 runs from September 24 to October 3 during the FIFA international match window.
The tournament is divided into Division 1 and Division 2, with Division 1 being held in Indonesia and Division 2 in Hong Kong, China.
Vietnam are in Group B of Division 1 alongside Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines, while Group A consists of Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Vietnam will face the Philippines in their opening match on September 26, followed by Thailand on September 29 and Pakistan on October 2.
Under the tournament format, the two group winners will advance to the final, while the two runners-up will contest the third-place play-off.
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