Jakarta, 15 January 2026 – Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) President Tran Quoc Tuan has stressed that the journey to defend Vietnam’s AFF Cup crown in 2026 must begin immediately, especially as the group stage is widely regarded as highly competitive and rich in quality.
The official draw for the AFF Cup 2026—now renamed the ASEAN Cup—has outlined Vietnam’s path in their title defense. Attending the draw in person, President Tran Quoc Tuan said the greatest challenge lies not only in the strength of opponents, but also in the reigning champions’ need to overcome themselves.
Speaking to media, Tran Quoc Tuan emphasized: “The journey to defend the AFF Cup (ASEAN Cup) title for the Vietnam national team must start right now. Winning the championship is already difficult, but defending it is even harder. That is why we must prepare thoroughly and comprehensively in every aspect, from professional work and squad planning to logistics and organization.”
According to the VFF president, Vietnam’s current position as the region’s number one team is both an advantage and a source of significant pressure for everyone involved in the system.
Based on the draw, Vietnam have been placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and the winner of the play-off between Timor Leste and Brunei. Group B features Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.
Tran Quoc Tuan assessed Group A as a group with high technical quality, noting that all teams have shown clear improvement in recent years. Indonesia stand out as Vietnam’s main rival in the race for top spot, while Singapore are also experiencing rapid progress.
At the AFF Cup 2024, Vietnam defeated Indonesia 1-0, but the Indonesian side at that time mainly relied on domestic players. With the AFF Cup 2026 scheduled for July, before the European club season begins, Indonesia may be able to strengthen their squad with naturalized players of Dutch and English origin, making the challenge significantly tougher for the defending champions.
In addition, Singapore’s disciplined playing style and Cambodia’s improvement through naturalization policies and a more technical approach mean they are far from easy opponents. Nevertheless, Vietnam’s objective remains to finish top of the group, building on their impressive performance at AFF Cup 2024, where head coach Kim Sang-sik led the team to seven consecutive victories and their third championship title in history.
Vietnamese football is currently at the peak of Southeast Asia, holding the AFF Cup, Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and SEA Games titles, while the U23 team are also performing strongly at continental level. Notably, all of these successes have come under the guidance of Kim Sang-sik. While the pressure and workload on the Korean strategist are immense, he continues to receive strong support from the VFF and powerful encouragement from fans nationwide.
Hai Minh
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