Hanoi, 19 August 2026 – Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his delight after guiding the national team into the ASEAN Cup 2026 final, where they will renew their rivalry with Thailand in a highly anticipated battle for the regional crown.
Kim entered the post-match press conference alongside striker Nguyen Xuan Son, with the South Korean coach visibly pleased with his team’s performance and the support they received from the stands.
“I want to thank my players for this victory, and I also want to thank the fans who came to the stadium to support the Vietnam national team,” Kim said.
Looking back at the semifinal, Kim believed Vietnam produced a better performance in the second leg and successfully addressed several issues that had emerged in the opening encounter against Malaysia.
“Compared with the first leg, the players performed better in the second leg and addressed some of the shortcomings we still had,” he explained.
Vietnam’s preparations were complicated by a demanding schedule, with only one day available for recovery and training. As a result, Kim made several changes to his lineup in an effort to manage the physical condition of his players.
“With only one day to rest and train, I changed several positions to preserve the players’ fitness. I feel very honored and happy to reach another final with Vietnam, where we will face Thailand,” he added.
Attention now turns quickly to the final. Kim revealed that he watched Thailand play on Tuesday, although he stressed that tactical preparation would have to wait while his players focus on recovering from the semifinal.
“I watched Thailand play yesterday, but the most important thing right now is for the players to focus on recovery because we only have two days of rest before the first leg of the final,” Kim said.
For Xuan Son, the upcoming trip to Thailand carries particular significance. Two years ago, the striker suffered a serious injury there that sidelined him for a lengthy period. However, he refused to dwell on the painful memory ahead of the final.
“Actually, I don’t have any message for Thailand. I am here only to focus on contributing to the national team and preparing as well as possible for the match,” Xuan Son said.
Another major talking point involved Nguyen Dinh Bac, who played the entire match on his 22nd birthday. Kim dismissed suggestions that the decision was made as a birthday gesture, insisting it was entirely based on the forward’s condition and form.
“We celebrated Dinh Bac’s birthday at lunchtime today, but that wasn’t why I let him play the whole match. Dinh Bac is young, physically strong and in good form. It’s not just today – he will continue playing in the next two matches,” Kim explained.
The Vietnam coach once again underlined his high expectations for Dinh Bac, whom he believes possesses the attacking ability to eventually test himself at a higher level.
“I hope Dinh Bac can play in Asia or Europe. He needs to run more when we are defending, but in attack, he already has the ability to play at those levels,” Kim said.
Kim also provided an update on Nguyen Van Vi, revealing that the defender had been carrying a minor toe problem and was initially expected to be rested. However, an injury to Phan Tuan Tai forced the coaching staff to change their plans.
“Van Vi had a slight problem with his toe, so I intended to rest him and save his energy for the final. But because Tuan Tai was injured, I had to bring Van Vi on. Tuan Tai also hadn’t played for quite a long time,” he said.
The press conference also featured a lighter moment when Kim was informed that Xuan Son had scored five goals in the tournament. The coach jokingly suggested that he expected an even higher tally before setting his striker another challenge for the two-legged final.
“Xuan Son has only scored five goals? I thought it was more! I hope he scores three goals in the next two final matches. Both Xuan Son and Dinh Bac have done their jobs well with their commitment and performances on the pitch,” Kim said.
However, he was quick to emphasize that Vietnam’s progress has been driven by the entire squad rather than individual stars.
“But it is not only these two players. Every member of the team has worked hard for the national team. I hope this healthy competition will help us successfully defend the title,” Kim added with a smile before playfully teasing Xuan Son with the football sitting on the press conference table.
Xuan Son, meanwhile, described the upcoming showdown with Thailand as a “dream final”, although he declined to reveal anything about Vietnam’s tactical plans.
“I can’t really talk about tactics. I simply follow the coach’s game plan. But facing Thailand will be a ‘dream final.’ I’m only focusing on recovering physically because we have so little time. Let’s wait and see,” he said.
With another regional title now within reach, Vietnam face a rapid turnaround before meeting their biggest Southeast Asian rivals. For Kim Sang-sik, the priority is clear: help his players recover, prepare carefully for Thailand and give Vietnam the best possible chance of successfully defending their ASEAN Cup crown.
VSN/RPT
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