On the afternoon of June 11, the Vietnam team returned to Hanoi, concluding the second match of the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu represented the leaders of the Vietnam Football Federation to go directly to the airport to welcome and encourage the whole team.
Previously, in the away match at Bukit Jalil Stadium, the Vietnam team suffered a 0-4 defeat to Malaysia. The opponent has increased its strength significantly with the service of high-class naturalized players.
Meanwhile, coach Kim Sang-sik has many difficulties in personnel when missing a series of key players such as Viet Anh, Thanh Binh, Doan Ngoc Tan and Nguyen Xuan Son due to injury. In addition, Thanh Chung and Bui Tien Dung also left the field early due to pain, forcing the coaching staff to adjust personnel and tactics beyond expectations.
This defeat changed the situation in Group F. The Vietnamese team fell to second in the group with 3 points and a goal difference of +1, while Malaysia took the lead with 6 points and a goal difference of +6.
According to regulations, the ranking in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup is determined based on the scores, only the head-to-head, the total number of goals conceded, the number of goals, fair-play points and draw if necessary.
This means that if they want to win the top spot in the group and reach the final round, the Vietnamese team needs to win all remaining matches, and at the same time overcome Malaysia with a minimum difference of 5 goals in the return home match in March 2026.
"We have to admit that Malaysia has become significantly stronger thanks to naturalized players. However, football always has miracles. If we prepare well for the rematch in Hanoi, I think we still have a chance to make up for the 4 goals we lost," said coach Kim Sang-sik.
After returning home, the players will return to the club to play the remaining 2 matches in the V.League and the 2024-2025 National Cup.
The Vietnam team will gather again during the FIFA Days in October to prepare for the match against the Nepal team at home on October 9 and then the return match at the away stadium on October 14.
Previously, coach Kim Sang-sik will join U23 Vietnam in the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Championship in Indonesia in July and the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers at Viet Tri Stadium in September.
