The Vietnamese team defeated Malaysia 2-0 at Kuala Lumpur on the evening of August 16, while Thailand defeated Singapore 3-1 in the first leg semi-final match that took place the day before. With these results, the two leading Southeast Asian teams both created a significant advantage before the second leg.
According to assessments from Indonesian media, if no major surprises appear, Vietnam and Thailand are likely to continue to meet in the final match of the ASEAN Cup. This will be the third consecutive time the two teams compete for the championship, showing the dominance of the two major forces in the regional arena in recent years.
In the last two ASEAN Cups, Vietnam and Thailand both won the championship after defeating direct opponents in the final. In 2022, Thailand defeated Vietnam with a total score of 3-2 after two legs to win the championship. In 2024, the Vietnamese team responded with a 5-3 overall victory, thereby winning the championship.
Therefore, the prospect of a rematch between the two teams in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final is receiving special attention. While Indonesia cannot go deep after stopping right from the group stage, Vietnam and Thailand continue to show a gap in experience and bravery in important matches.
The Vietnamese team is assessed to have had a not easy match against Malaysia. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team faced difficulties because the field was not favorable, while the home team organized a tight defense and played with high determination.
The deadlock was only resolved in the 45+5 minute when Nguyen Xuan Son made a beautiful header, putting the Vietnamese team ahead. The goal right before halftime helped the away team relieve pressure and have more conditions to control the match in the 2nd half.
Malaysia then pushed up the squad to find an equalizer and created no small amount of pressure. The Vietnamese team had to defend against the home team's attacks at times. However, the defense still maintained concentration.
At the end of the match, the Vietnamese team scored another goal after Faris Danish's own goal. The 2-0 victory gives coach Kim Sang-sik's team a great advantage before the second leg at My Dinh Stadium on August 19.
However, coach Kim Sang-sik still maintains caution. The Korean coach believes that the score of 2-0 is a good result, but the Vietnamese team needs to continue to aim for an effective performance in the second leg to complete the goal of reaching the final.
Thailand also created a similar advantage after a 3-1 victory over Singapore. The Golden Temple team led 3-0 and controlled most of the game, but Ilhan Fandi's goal in the 84th minute narrowed the gap and helped Singapore still have hope.
Coach Anthony Hudson therefore does not see victory in the first leg as a guarantee for a ticket to the final. Thailand still has to complete the task in the second leg and avoid letting the opponent have the opportunity to create a comeback.
The caution of the two coaches was also highly appreciated by Indonesian media. Both Vietnam and Thailand understand that the advantage after the first leg is only meaningful when protected in the decisive match.
However, with a 2-goal lead, Vietnam and Thailand clearly have many advantages to advance to the final. If they both complete the task in the second leg, the two teams will continue to create the most anticipated confrontation in Southeast Asian football.
Indonesian media believes that Vietnam and Thailand are proving their position as top candidates for the ASEAN Cup 2026 championship. A final between the two teams not only recreates the familiar confrontation but also opens a new chapter for the competition between the two biggest forces in the region.
