Not satisfied with the ASEAN Cup championship
The Vietnamese team successfully defended the ASEAN Cup championship for the first time in history along with many other achievements such as scoring the most goals, conceding the fewest goals, owning the best player, best goalkeeper and 2 top scorers.
However, right after the championship, coach Kim Sang-sik was present at Hang Day to watch the 2025-2026 National Super Cup.
There are still things that need to be improved for the Vietnamese national team after the ASEAN Cup 2026. My task and my colleagues is to follow the first two rounds of the V.League 2026-2027 to find and supplement good players, creating new combinations towards the FIFA ASEAN Cup," coach Kim Sang-sik shared in an online exchange with Lao Dong Newspaper.
If they want to aim for the next Southeast Asian title as well as maintain their current unbeaten streak, the Vietnamese team really needs to consolidate their form in all 3 lines.
According to Mr. Kim Sang-sik, despite possessing an attack with many choices, the ability to coordinate and maintain scoring efficiency is a problem that needs to be solved soon. He also believes that finding more personnel to strengthen the defense and midfield is something that must be done immediately if you want to improve the quality of the team.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 taking place in September is a much bigger challenge than the traditional Southeast Asian tournament. The story is not only for the Vietnamese team but also for ambitious championship candidates such as host Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
This is a tournament taking place during FIFA Days. Vietnam's opponents can gather more good players without encountering obstacles from clubs. Indonesia alone can add 15-16 quality faces from Europe. The tournament called FIFA ASEAN Cup, although with fewer matches than traditional ASEAN Cup, is much more formidable," said journalist Alvino Hanafi of Goal Indonesia.
Who did Mr. Kim Sang-sik recruit?
In the first 2 rounds of the V.League, coach Kim Sang-sik and his assistants will "visit" no less than 10 stadiums. The names named can be mentioned such as Nguyen Filip, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Tran Dinh Trong, Adou Minh (Hanoi Police), Doan Ngoc Tan (The Cong Viettel), Williams Minh Hoang, Olaha Manh Duc, Ngo Dang Khoa (Ho Chi Minh City Police).
In addition, the Korean coach will not ignore some clubs in the middle group or even the First Division, in order to have more new options to serve the FIFA ASEAN Cup or further the 2027 Asian Cup finals taking place early next year.
Looking from the National Super Cup match alone, coach Kim Sang-sik is quite satisfied with the high performance of Cao Pendant Quang Vinh. This left-back originally did not participate in the ASEAN Cup 2026 because he was busy with Hanoi Police competing for tickets to the AFC Champions League Elite.
Facing the ability to attack and defend flexibly, a solid physical foundation and good crosses into the penalty area, Quang Vinh promises to be a more upgraded version compared to Nguyen Van Vi or Phan Tuan Tai.
In addition, the central defender group including Dinh Trong or Adou Minh can consolidate the defensive capacity for the Vietnamese team. It is undeniable that defenders such as Xuan Manh, Viet Anh, Thanh Chung, Van Hau have played stably in the ASEAN Cup.
However, throughout the past 8 matches, the Vietnamese team still needs more intelligent tactical vision from Dinh Trong, Adou Minh to prevent the classy " drill bits" on the side of Thailand or Indonesia.
It is impossible to ignore 2 overseas Vietnamese faces in the Ho Chi Minh City Police team. Ngo Dang Khoa's speed on the right flank, along with Williams Minh Hoang's skill set of pressing, seizing, dribbling and finishing, will definitely expand the competition for the national team.
Closing the ASEAN Cup 2026 successfully, the Vietnamese team continues to aim for ambition at the FIFA ASEAN Cup. Against Thailand, Philippines or Malaysia, Indonesia, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team must also focus on sharpening, consolidating and raising the depth of the force.
