Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia impress but reveal weaknesses in 2026 ASEAN Cup openers

Vietnam defeated Timor-Leste 7-0 in their Group A opener on July 24.

Thailand followed with a 5-0 victory over Laos in Group B on July 25, while Indonesia beat Cambodia 5-1 on July 27.

The three teams cannot be fully assessed after heavy wins over weaker opponents.

However, their opening matches offered some early indications of their strengths and vulnerabilities.

Vietnam’s victory highlighted the attacking power of head coach Kim Sang Sik’s team.

Naturalized stars Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen made an impressive transition into the Vietnamese national team and combined effectively with Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Quang Hai, and Nguyen Hoang Duc.

The combination gives Vietnam one of the most formidable attacks at the tournament.

Naturalized player Nguyen Tai Loc has yet to debut because of his injury. 

If the Brazilian-born striker returns, Vietnam’s attacking options could become even more dangerous.

The biggest concern for Vietnam, however, is their defense.

Southeast Asian football observers said that the quality of Vietnam’s defense does not yet match the level of their attacking players.

Timor-Leste’s limited strength meant the Vietnamese defense was not placed under serious pressure, and Vietnam were fortunate to keep a clean sheet.

The Vietnam team’s defensive quality will face a much tougher test against stronger opponents.

Regarding Thailand, its 5-0 victory over Laos also did not provide a complete picture of the team’s strength, particularly because Thailand played with a numerical advantage from an early stage.

Nevertheless, fitness remained the Thai team’s significant weakness.

Thailand’s players appeared to run out of energy during the final 15 minutes and were no longer moving with the same intensity.

Former Thai star Sarayoot Chaikamdee was also dissatisfied with the performance, questioning why several Thai players suffered cramps around the 75th to 80th minutes.

Thai media had previously expressed concerns that the national team might not be in peak physical condition because of an insufficiently thorough preparation period.

Thailand’s relatively old squad for the 2026 ASEAN Cup has added to concerns over fitness.

The question for Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national team, is how Thailand will cope with opponents that are stronger, fitter, and capable of maintaining a high intensity for longer.

Indonesia face a similar concern in defense.

The Indonesian midfield and attack looked strong enough to overwhelm most opponents, but the defense, particularly the goalkeeper position, raised questions during the 5-1 win over Cambodia.

Despite dominating the match, Indonesia conceded a goal.

Indonesia’s goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata made a major mistake in the sequence, while the fullbacks also shared responsibility after allowing Cambodia to attack down the flanks too easily.

Indonesia national team head coach John Herdman expressed his dissatisfaction with the goal and called on his players to remain more focused.

A lack of concentration and complacency remain major concerns for Indonesia’s defense.

Goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata’s inconsistent mentality is another potential weakness, particularly if Indonesia are able to call up two high-level naturalized goalkeepers who could compete for the starting position.

Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia will face stronger opposition in the next phase, when their real ambitions and strength are put to a much more demanding test.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup runs from July 24 to August 26, with 10 teams divided into two groups.

The teams engage in a single round-robin group stage, with each side playing two home and two away matches.

The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, while the semifinals and final are played over two legs.

Defending champions Vietnam are in Group A with Timor-Leste, Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

The Vietnam national team are scheduled to face Timor-Leste away on July 24, Singapore at home on July 31, Indonesia away on August 3, and Cambodia at home on August 7.

The Vietnam Football Federation has selected My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi as Vietnam’s home venue for the tournament.