Vietnam’s national team ended their dismal streak and brought joy to their fans by defeating the Philippines 3-2 at My Dinh Stadium on the evening of June 6. This crucial win under new head coach Kim Sang-sik has reignited hopes of advancing to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
This victory came in the fifth match of the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. Currently, Iraq leads Group F with 15 points, followed by Indonesia with 7 points, Vietnam with 6 points, and the Philippines at the bottom with 1 point. With Iraq already securing a spot in the next round and the Philippines eliminated, the race for the second qualifying spot in Group F is now between Indonesia and Vietnam.
With one match remaining and a one-point gap, Vietnam still has a chance to advance. What conditions are required for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to move forward?
In the final round, Vietnam will face Iraq away at 1:00 AM on June 12, while Indonesia will host the Philippines at 7:30 PM on June 11. Vietnam’s fate largely depends on the result of the Indonesia vs. Philippines match.
If Indonesia defeats the Philippines, a feat they failed to achieve in the first leg (a 1-1 draw), coach Shin Tae Yong’s team will secure their spot in the third round without needing to consider the result of the Vietnam vs. Iraq match.
If Indonesia does not win against the Philippines, Vietnam’s chances of advancing will depend on the specific outcome in Jakarta. If Indonesia draws with the Philippines, Vietnam must win against Iraq to surpass Indonesia in points (9 points vs. 8 points).
If Indonesia loses to the Philippines, Vietnam’s path to advancement becomes more favorable. In this scenario, Vietnam would not necessarily need to win against Iraq. Indonesia would remain at 7 points, with a goal difference likely falling further below their current -2.
Vietnam also has a goal difference of -2, so avoiding defeat against Iraq (either a draw or a win) would ensure they finish above Indonesia in the standings. In the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the first tiebreaker for teams with equal points is goal difference, not head-to-head results. Therefore, Indonesia’s advantage of winning both group matches against Vietnam would be nullified.
While Vietnam’s progression to the next round is not entirely in their hands, the pressure on coach Kim Sang-sik is manageable. After a disappointing period under former coach Philippe Troussier, Vietnamese fans are hopeful that the national team can regain its former glory and continue to improve. Regardless of whether Vietnam advances, a strong performance against Iraq would satisfy the fans.
SCENARIOS FOR VIETNAM TO ADVANCE TO THE THIRD ROUND
- Indonesia draws with the Philippines, and Vietnam wins against Iraq.
- Indonesia loses to the Philippines, and Vietnam avoids defeat against Iraq (draw or win)
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