Midfielder Do Hung Dung has expressed hope that newly appointed coach Kim Sang-sik will bring a fresh approach to help the Vietnam national football team achieve better results following Philippe Troussier’s tenure.
The Vietnam national team commenced their first training session under Coach Kim Sang-sik this afternoon, preparing for their final two matches in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Philippines and Iraq. Do Hung Dung, a key player for the team, was designated to speak with the media.
“We have high expectations for Coach Kim, given his extensive experience playing and coaching in Korea as well as in the AFC Champions League,” Do Hung Dung remarked. “We hope that his experience will contribute to the development of Vietnamese players.”
Hung Dung noted that Coach Kim Sang-sik seems approachable, possibly due to the cultural similarities between Vietnam and South Korea. He acknowledged that Coach Kim will inevitably be compared to his predecessor, Park Hang-seo, who led the Vietnamese national and U23 teams to unprecedented success. However, Hung Dung emphasized that they should focus on the future.
“I don’t think Coach Kim needs to create a completely new playing style; the key is suitability,” the midfielder, born in 1993, explained. “Given our current squad, form, and results, any playing style that is effective and brings joy to our fans is welcome.”
Do Hung Dung has served as the captain of the Vietnam national team for the past two years. However, under Coach Kim’s leadership, the team has yet to appoint a new captain. The midfielder noted that there is no guaranteed spot for any player under the new regime.
“The competition among players is very intense but fair,” the Hanoi FC player stated. “It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran or a newcomer. Whoever adheres to the tactics and performs well will earn the coach’s trust.”
Vietnam is gearing up for their matches against the Philippines on June 6 at home and Iraq on June 11 away. The chances of advancing to the next round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers are slim, as Vietnam currently sits third in Group F with three points, trailing Indonesia by three points and Iraq by nine points.
Despite the uphill battle, Hung Dung urged the team to continue striving, even if the odds are against them. He set a goal to earn points in the away match against Iraq and to deliver an entertaining and victorious performance against the Philippines.
“Our goal is to put up a good fight and secure points in Iraq,” Hung Dung declared. “For the match against the Philippines, we aim to play beautifully and win to bring joy to our supporters.”
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