Vietnam national team assembly: Two sessions, one match, and the Thailand equation

Vietnam national team will assemble on September 21, 2026, before departing for Indonesia on September 23 to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The team enters the tournament as defending champions, with a clear objective: top Group B and reach the final to retain the title. The most striking aspect of this gathering is the limited preparation time. Only two official training sessions are scheduled before the opening match against the Philippines on September 26. This forces head coach Kim Sang Sik to rely on the continuity of the core group that won the previous title, rather than introducing new faces or complex tactical systems. Vietnam is placed in Group B alongside Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. The match against Thailand on September 29 is particularly anticipated, as it is a rematch of the final where Vietnam recently claimed victory. The group stage concludes on October 2 against Pakistan. Midfielder Van Vi is ruled out due to injury, while the availability of Nguyen Hoang Duc remains uncertain. These absences create a potential fragility in the midfield axis, which could force Vietnam to adopt a more cautious, structured approach. The knockout stage employs extra time and penalty shootouts for drawn matches. Given the compressed preparation, Vietnam will aim to resolve matches within regular time to avoid fitness disadvantages. This tournament is both a validation of Vietnam's regional supremacy and a test of the coaching staff's ability to manage resources under severe time constraints.