Vietnam hold the edge over Thailand ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup final. Photo: Tuoi Tre
The upcoming final, with the first leg slated for Saturday night, will be the fourth time Vietnam and Thailand have met for the ASEAN Cup title.
In their three previous encounters, in 2008, 2022 and 2024, Vietnam won the trophy twice.
Their first final meeting came at the 2008 AFF Cup, the former name of the ASEAN Cup.
Under coach Henrique Calisto, Vietnam stunned Thailand with a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.
In the return leg at My Dinh Stadium, Le Cong Vinh scored a dramatic stoppage-time header to secure a 1-1 draw.
Vietnam prevailed 3-2 on aggregate to claim their first Southeast Asian championship.
It took 14 years for the two rivals to meet again in the final.
At the 2022 ASEAN Cup, under head coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam drew 2-2 with Thailand at My Dinh.
However, a 1-0 defeat in the second leg at Thammasat Stadium saw Vietnam lose 3-2 on aggregate as Thailand lifted the trophy.
Vietnam exacted their revenge in the 2024 ASEAN Cup final under coach Kim Sang-sik.
Naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son and his teammates won the first leg 2-1 before completing a memorable 3-2 victory over Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium.
The 5-3 aggregate triumph secured Vietnam’s third ASEAN Cup title.
Across their six previous final matches against Thailand, Vietnam won three, drew two and lost just once.
Vietnamese players scored 10 goals in those encounters, compared with eight for Thailand.
The 2026 finale will also mark the third consecutive edition of the ASEAN Cup in which Vietnam and Thailand have met in the championship decider, further cementing one of Southeast Asian football’s most enduring rivalries.
The 2026 ASEAN Championship, held from July 24 to August 26, features 10 teams divided into two groups.
Vietnam were drawn in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia and Timor-Leste.
Group B consisted of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.
After almost a month of competition, Vietnam and Thailand have emerged as the two finalists.
The first leg of the 20206 ASEAN Championship final will be played at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok at 8:00 pm on Saturday.
The second leg between Vietnam and Thailand will take place at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi at 8:00 pm on August 26.
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