Hanoi, 13 June, 2025 – With the announcement that the national team will not gather during the September FIFA Days, Vietnam has indirectly declined the invitation to the 2025 King’s Cup from the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
Following Vietnam’s victory at the ASEAN Cup in January 2025, FAT President Madam Pang extended an invitation to coach Kim Sang-sik and his players to participate in the 51st edition of the traditional friendly tournament, the King’s Cup.
“We would like to invite Vietnam, the reigning ASEAN Cup 2024 champions, to participate in the King’s Cup 2025. Their presence would help us in our campaign to bring the tournament to various provinces, previously held in Chiang Mai and most recently in Songkhla,” Madam Pang stated at the time.
The 2025 King’s Cup is scheduled to take place from September 1 to 9, coinciding with the September FIFA Days, and will feature three international guest teams alongside the hosts.
Thailand has yet to announce the identities of the three invited teams, as negotiations are still ongoing.
However, according to the latest announcement from the Vietnam Football Federation, the national team will not be assembled during the September FIFA Days. This indirectly signifies Vietnam’s rejection of FAT’s invitation.
The last time Vietnam took part in the King’s Cup was in 2019 under coach Park Hang-seo. That year, Vietnam defeated host Thailand 1-0 and finished as runners-up.
Since then, Thailand has extended at least two official invitations — in 2022 and now in 2025 — but both were unsuccessful.
Kim Chi
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