Vietnam national team’s chances of advancing to the third round of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Asia are slim. However, as long as there is a possibility, coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad are determined to fight until the end.
Theoretically, if Vietnam defeats Iraq and Indonesia fails to win against the Philippines in the preceding match, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team will surpass Indonesia in the standings. This would place Vietnam in second place in Group F of the second round of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Asia, securing a spot in the third round.
Another scenario that could see Vietnam advance is if they manage to draw against Iraq while Indonesia loses to the Philippines. However, the likelihood of both conditions occurring simultaneously is quite low. Although Indonesia might find it challenging to win against the Philippines, they are equally unlikely to lose at their home stadium, Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta. Meanwhile, despite Iraq having little motivation left, it is still a formidable task for Vietnam to defeat the West Asian team on their home turf in front of about 65,000 Iraqi fans.
Former Vietnam national team captain and current coach Tran Cong Minh commented, “In reality, fans and experts do not demand that Vietnam must win against Iraq to advance. The important thing is the team’s performance and playing style, to regain the trust of the fans.”
This means that as long as the Vietnam team performs well against Iraq, both experts and fans will regain confidence in the team for future international competitions, including the AFF Cup scheduled for the end of this year.
The match against Iraq may see a different approach compared to the recent game against the Philippines. In the match against the Philippines, Vietnam played an attacking style as they were the stronger team. However, when facing Iraq, coach Kim Sang Sik’s team is likely to adopt a defensive counter-attacking strategy due to the opponent’s superior strength.
This adaptability in tactics and gameplay is eagerly anticipated. Under former coach Philippe Troussier, the Vietnam team often played rigidly, making them easy to predict. Now, there is hope that coach Kim Sang Sik will manage the team more effectively, adjusting strategies to better suit different opponents compared to his predecessor.
Vietnam is not as strong as Iraq, and a victory is not highly expected. However, if the team plays wisely and understands their strengths and weaknesses, coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad could hold Iraq to a draw on their home ground. A draw against Iraq in Basra at this time would be a fantastic result for the Vietnam team.
Prediction: Iraq 1-1 Vietnam
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