After a convincing 3-0 victory over Indonesia right on the away field, the Vietnamese team is holding a great advantage in the race to win the top spot in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team currently has 7 points after 3 matches, only needing 1 point more against Cambodia to officially participate in the semi-finals.
Not only moving closer to the ticket to the next round, the performance against Indonesia also showed the stability of the Vietnamese team. Although not fielding the strongest squad, Mr. Kim Sang-sik's students still controlled the game well, playing effectively in both attack and defense to win deservedly.
With the semi-finals very close, it is likely that the Vietnamese team will make personnel adjustments in the last match of the group stage. Some key players such as Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, Van Hau or Tai Loc may be maintained, creating opportunities for reserve players to show their abilities. However, the depth of the squad is the basis for the home team to still aim for the goal of winning all 3 points.
On the other side, Cambodia has shown positive signs at this year's tournament. The 3-0 victory over Timor-Leste helps coach Koji Gyotoku's team nurture hopes of competing for a spot in the next round. The presence of many naturalized players also helps Cambodia's playing style become more competitive than before.
However, when facing strong teams, Cambodia still revealed many limitations. They lost to Singapore 1-2 and Indonesia 1-5 respectively, especially having difficulty resisting pressure and speed transitions. The defense also often revealed space in front of goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy's goal.
Head-to-head history also completely leans towards the Vietnamese team. In 11 encounters in all competitions, the Vietnamese team has won all, scored 48 goals and conceded only 7 goals. At the ASEAN Cup, the two teams have met many times and the Vietnamese team has won with a difference of three goals or more.
With the home advantage of My Dinh Stadium, stable form and superior force, the Vietnamese team is rated much higher than the opponent. If they maintain solid defense and take good advantage of opportunities, coach Kim Sang-sik's team is likely to close the group stage with a victory, thereby advancing to the semi-finals with the top spot in Group A.
The match between Vietnam and Cambodia will take place at 8:00 PM tonight (August 7).
Expected lineup
Vietnam: Tran Trung Kien; Nguyen Thanh Chung, Khong Minh Gia Bao, Nguyen Nhat Minh; Phan Tuan Tai, Truong Tien Anh, Le Pham Thanh Long, Nguyen Quang Hai; Le Van Do, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong.
Cambodia: Hul Kimhuy; Mizuno, Hav Soknet, Ouk Sovann, Im Vakhim; Phat Sokha, Ty Sa, Alisher Mirzaev; Yem Devit, Iago Fernandes, Samuel Bong.
