The Vietnamese national team will host Singapore at 8:00 PM on July 31st at My Dinh Stadium in the 3rd match of Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026. Against the leading opponent in the group, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team set a goal to win all 3 points to rise to the top spot.
After an impressive 7-0 victory over Timor-Leste in the opening match, the Vietnamese team took a break in the second match because Group A has 5 teams. The break gives the coaching staff more time to adjust tactics, and also helps players recover their fitness before the match considered the most important in the early stage of the group stage.
Returning to My Dinh Stadium after a long time playing in neutral or other local stadiums is also a big advantage for the Vietnamese team. The cheers of home fans are expected to add motivation for Quang Hai and his teammates to maintain a controlling playing style and create pressure from the beginning of the match.
On the opposite side, Singapore is in good form when winning all 2 of the first matches against Cambodia and Timor-Leste to temporarily lead Group A with 6 points. However, the performance of the lion island nation team is not really convincing when the attack misses quite a few opportunities, while the defense still reveals gaps before transition situations.
Coach Gavin Lee's team possesses many notable players such as the Fandi brothers, Nakamura or Ui Yong Song, names with good counter-attacking and space-saving capabilities. However, having to play continuously and move to Hanoi is also a certain disadvantage for the away team.
For the Vietnamese team, this is an important opportunity to create an advantage in the race to win a ticket to the semi-finals. If they maintain the solidity in the defense and take good advantage of scoring opportunities, coach Kim Sang-sik's team can completely win to take the lead in Group A.
Considering the balance of power, home field advantage and superior head-to-head record against Singapore in recent years, the Vietnamese team is rated slightly higher and has many opportunities to win 3 points.
Expected lineup
Vietnam: Le Giang Patrik; Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Pham Xuan Manh, Truong Tien Anh; Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Van Vi; Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen.
Singapore: Mahbud; Irfan Fandi, Harun, Tan Han Wei, Ui Yong Song; Stewart, Nakamura, Shahiran; Abdullah, Glen Kweh, Ilhan Fandi.
