According to the draw results, the Vietnamese team is in Group B Division 1 of FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 with Thailand, Philippines and Pakistan. This is considered an attractive group when it gathers the two leading teams in Southeast Asia.
Immediately after the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 draw, Thai media simultaneously assessed that the confrontation with the Vietnamese team will be the focus of Group B Division 1.
Many opinions believe that this is an opportunity for the Thai team to aim to reclaim their debt after the defeat to the Vietnamese team in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final. The articles all predict that the rematch between the two teams will be fierce when both Vietnam and Thailand are considered top candidates for a ticket to the final.
The most recent meeting between the two teams took place in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final. At that time, under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese team defeated Thailand 2-1 at Viet Tri Stadium before continuing to win 3-2 at Rajamangala Stadium, thereby winning the championship with a total score of 5-3.
That was also the first time the Thai team lost to the Vietnamese team in both legs of a final.
In terms of head-to-head record, Thailand is still slightly better with 18 wins, 8 draws and 5 defeats after 31 encounters. However, in the last 10 encounters, the balance is quite balanced when each team has 3 wins and 4 draws each.
In addition, regional media also assessed that Group B will be the main competition between Vietnam and Thailand. The Philippines is considered a team that can create a surprise if it gathers all the forces playing in Europe and the US during FIFA Days, while Pakistan is rated lower when it is ranked 198th in the FIFA rankings.
