Vietnam turn FIFA ASEAN Cup pain into Asian Cup 2027 rebuilding push

Vietnam ended the tournament in Indonesia without a medal after losing 1-0 to Malaysia in the third-place playoff on Monday.

The defeat followed another loss to Thailand, with both teams having been beaten by Vietnam during their ASEAN Cup title run in August.

Head coach Kim Sang Sik acknowledged that his players had struggled physically after a demanding schedule involving the ASEAN Cup, domestic league matches, and the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

“The players have been competing continuously,” Kim Sang Sik said.

“In that situation, injuries can range from minor to serious and affect both their fitness and physical condition.”

Poor preparation for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026

Football commentator Ngo Quang Tung said Vietnam’s performance was understandable given the absence of several key players, but the tournament highlighted weaknesses in fitness and the lack of effective replacements.

“Once Malaysia stepped up the tempo after the hour mark, the team found it difficult to keep up,” Tung said.

“Vietnam also lacked players capable of deciding a match or producing something different.”

Ngo Quang Tung also said Vietnam had not prepared well enough for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.

He added that the team had not reached the tournament in ideal condition, with few players at their best for the tournament. Vietnam were also missing several regulars through injury and fitness problems.

Asian Cup becomes next major target

Vietnam will now have two training camps and three international friendlies before the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The team are scheduled to face Chinese Taipei and Kyrgyzstan during the November FIFA window.

A second camp will begin on December 21, before Vietnam travel to Qatar on January 1, 2027.

They are due to play Qatar in a friendly on January 5 before heading to Saudi Arabia for the continental tournament.

Vietnam’s squad could look significantly different by then.

Nguyen Xuan Son, Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, and Doan Van Hau are expected to return, while Nigerian-born striker Olaha Manh Duc and U.S.-born center-back Luong Chi Khai, also known as Kyle Colonna, could provide further options.

Olaha could offer competition and cover in attack, while the 1.88-meter-tall Luong Chi Khai may strengthen a defense that looked vulnerable during the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

Another priority for Kim Sang Sik will be finding a reliable defensive midfielder.

The coach tested center-back Nhat Minh in the role against Pakistan, but the experiment was unsuccessful and highlighted Vietnam’s lack of a natural ball-winner in midfield.

That weakness could prove particularly costly against stronger Asian opposition.

Kim Sang Sik said the coaching staff would continue looking for quality players while giving younger footballers more opportunities.

“As head coach, I have to find good players and also develop young players by giving them chances to compete and mature,” he said.

“Through that process, we can build a national team with a better balance between generations.”

Captain Nguyen Hoang Duc said Vietnam had learned important lessons from the tournament and must improve ahead of the Asian Cup.

“I hope the team can become more cohesive and organized, play with a clearer identity, and come back stronger,” he said.