Jakarta, 15 January 2026 – Vietnam have been placed in a challenging Group A at the AFF Cup 2026, where they will face Indonesia and Singapore in what promises to be a demanding group-stage campaign.
The official draw for the AFF Cup 2026 has seen Vietnam national football team drawn into Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and the winner of the play-off between Timor Leste and Brunei. Meanwhile, Group B features Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.
Group A is widely regarded as a difficult group for Vietnam, particularly due to the presence of Indonesia. At the AFF Cup 2024, Vietnam edged Indonesia 1-0 thanks to a decisive goal from Quang Hai, but the upcoming encounter is expected to be far more demanding. The AFF Cup 2026 is scheduled for July, before the start of the European club season, which could allow the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to negotiate the release of several naturalized players of Dutch and English origin. Even at the 2024 tournament, when Indonesia relied largely on domestic-based players, Vietnam only managed a narrow victory.
Under the guidance of John Herdman, Indonesia will be eager to reassert themselves after their disappointment in the final round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Their renewed ambition makes them one of the most dangerous opponents in the group.
Singapore and Cambodia are also far from easy opponents. Singapore remain a disciplined and well-organized side and caused Vietnam significant problems in the semi-finals of the 2024 edition. Cambodia, meanwhile, have made noticeable progress through a combination of naturalized players and a more technical playing style under Japanese coaches. At AFF Cup 2024, Cambodia held Malaysia to a 2-2 draw under sustained pressure and pushed Thailand hard in a narrow 2-3 defeat.
Vietnam’s primary objective in the group stage will be to finish top of Group A before turning their attention to the knockout rounds. The team arrive at AFF Cup 2026 with strong momentum, having set a tournament record for most victories in a single edition with seven wins at AFF Cup 2024. On their way to the title, Vietnam defeated Laos (4-1), Indonesia (1-0), Myanmar (5-1), Singapore (2-0, 3-1), and Thailand (2-1, 3-2), securing their third AFF Cup crown.
Remarkably, Vietnam are currently on a 22-match unbeaten run in AFF Cup group stages dating back to 2014, comprising 17 wins and five draws. Over the past 12 years, they have topped their group five times (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024) and finished second once (2020). This consistency at group level has provided a solid foundation for their titles in 2018 and 2024, as well as a runners-up finish in 2022.
Looking ahead, Vietnam are expected to field a balanced squad at AFF Cup 2026, blending emerging U23 talents who impressed at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 with naturalized players such as Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen, along with overseas Vietnamese players including Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and Nguyen Filip. With this refreshed yet experienced lineup, Vietnam have strong reason to believe they can defend their AFF Cup title and use the tournament as a springboard toward bigger goals, including the Asian Cup 2027 and the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
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