Hanoi, 9 August 2026 – Vietnam will renew their rivalry with Malaysia in the semifinals of the ASEAN Cup 2026, with the first leg scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on August 16 before the decisive return leg at the packed My Dinh National Stadium on August 19.
Malaysia secured second place in Group B to book their place in the last four. Tan Cheng Hoe’s men began their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Myanmar, surviving several scares as their opponents squandered a number of clear-cut chances. They then defeated Laos before suffering a deserved loss to defending runners-up Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium. A narrow 1-0 win over the Philippines in their final group-stage match saw the Harimau Malaya finish with nine points from four games.
Vietnam, meanwhile, advanced as Group A winners, but Kim Sang-sik’s side were far from flawless during the group stage. The Golden Star Warriors were held to a goalless draw by Singapore at home before needing two late goals to overcome Cambodia 3-1 in their final group match.
Although Vietnam remain unbeaten, there is still room for improvement. The team is continuing to refine its playing style, with the midfield occasionally lacking control and the attack failing to capitalize on several promising opportunities. Defensive lapses also became evident against Cambodia, where a series of individual mistakes allowed the visitors to score Vietnam’s first conceded goal of the tournament.
Those issues could prove costly against a Malaysia side that knows Vietnam well. The two nations have met nine times over the past 12 years across the ASEAN Championship and the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, leaving both teams highly familiar with each other’s tactical approach.
With a week to prepare, Kim Sang-sik is expected to focus on tightening Vietnam’s defensive organization while adding greater variety to the team’s attacking play. Vietnam will also need to avoid relying too heavily on crosses into the box or the individual brilliance of in-form forward Nguyen Dinh Bac, who has carried much of the attacking burden during the tournament.
Equally important will be the mental aspect. Semifinal ties are often decided by composure as much as quality, and Vietnam will need to remain disciplined across both legs in Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi.
Malaysia, meanwhile, are likely to enter the tie with added motivation. Having suffered back-to-back defeats to Vietnam during the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Tan Cheng Hoe’s side will be eager to settle the score and deny the defending champions a place in another ASEAN Cup final. The stage is now set for another fiercely contested chapter in one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling football rivalries.
VSN/RPT
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