The Vietnamese team will have their opening match against Timor Leste in the opening match of Group A - ASEAN Cup 2026. With the status of defending champion, coach Kim Sang-sik's team's goal is not only 3 points, but also aiming for a large victory to create an advantage in goal difference right from the first match.
The preparation process of the Vietnamese team was completed with a training trip in Korea and a 4-0 victory over Myanmar. This is a time for the coaching staff to test the force, assess the performance of the players as well as complete tactical plans before entering the official tournament.
The Vietnamese national team force continues to gather many experienced players such as Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Thanh Chung, Van Hau and Xuan Son. Besides, young faces such as Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen or Tai Loc also create more choices in attacking positions.
In the opposite direction, Timor Leste is present in the group stage after overcoming Brunei with a total score of 6-1 in the play-offs. This team owns some players playing abroad, in which Joao Pedro is considered the most prominent factor in the attack.
However, the ability to organize defense is still a limitation when Timor-Leste often reveals many gaps against opponents with good ball control ability.
Recent encounters have shown that Timor Leste has made certain progress, but the level gap with the Vietnamese team is still quite large. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team is considered superior in terms of squad quality, playing experience as well as the ability to create pressure.
Before the match started, many experts and regional media predicted that the Vietnamese team would have a favorable match.
Reputable international news sites lean towards a score of 4-0 or 5-0, in the context that Vietnam's attack is in good form with the appearance of 3 naturalized strikers. Meanwhile, Timor Leste has not shown certainty in defense.
If they effectively take advantage of opportunities and maintain a dominant game, the Vietnamese team is completely capable of creating a big gap, thereby having a favorable start in the journey to defend the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 championship.
