AFF Cup 2024 is the first major tournament that Mr. Kim Sang-sik leads the Vietnam team. In the opening match, the Vietnam team will play away at the Laos team. Winning 3 points is a mandatory goal for the team to aim for the top of the table, creating the premise to advance to the semi-finals.
The last time Vietnam won the cup was in 2018, then finished second in the 2022 tournament, losing to Thailand with a final score of 2-3 after two matches.
Kim Sang-sik's squad includes many players who won the 2018 AFF Cup such as Bui Tien Dung, Duy Manh, Tien Linh, Van Toan and especially Quang Hai. They play a very important role in the achievements of the Vietnamese team.
To secure the top spot in the group, Vietnam needs to defeat Indonesia. This is not an easy goal as Indonesia has beaten Vietnam 3 times in the past year.
The remaining two opponents, Myanmar and the Philippines, are both considered inferior to Kim Sang-sik and his team.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage and Vietnam will be one of the strongest candidates for the championship after reaching the semi-finals in the last five tournaments.
Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-yong is aiming for the same goal as former international and compatriot Kim Sang-sik.
The archipelago nation will look to build on their recent excellent form in the final round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Marselino Ferdinand - who scored both goals for his team in the famous 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the recent qualifiers - is Indonesia's best hope.
The core of the team is the U22 team, because the AFF Cup is not part of the FIFA system, so clubs have the right not to release players.
Meanwhile, the Philippines team has a young squad, and their performance has been fluctuating over time. The last time the Philippines team reached the semi-finals of the AFF Cup 2018. They need to have excellent performance to have any hope of competing for first and second place in the group.
The remaining two teams in Group B, Laos and Myanmar, are not highly rated. Laos has never advanced past the group stage of the AFF Cup. Myanmar has not reached the semi-finals since the 2016 AFF Cup.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The first legs of the semi-finals will be played on 26 and 27 December, with the return matches taking place three days later.
The final will be played on a home and away basis on 2 and 5 January 2025.
