Bangkok, 21 August 2026 – Coach Kim Sang-sik believes his side can once again overcome Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium as the defending champions prepare for the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final.
Kim attended the pre-match press conference alongside midfielder Do Hoang Hen at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on August 21. The session began around 10 minutes later than scheduled after an accident on the route from Vietnam’s hotel to the stadium delayed the delegation.
Upon arriving, the South Korean coach apologized for the unexpected delay before turning his attention to the final. Kim expressed his delight at leading Vietnam into another ASEAN Cup title decider and stressed that his players have an opportunity to achieve something unprecedented in the country’s football history.
“This is an opportunity for Vietnam to write a new chapter in history, and we certainly don’t want to miss it. The players’ desire to win the title is even greater than mine. That’s why I believe they will perform well away from home, with the pride of Vietnam and of the defending champions.”
The historic achievement Kim referred to is the possibility of Vietnam successfully defending the Southeast Asian championship for the first time. The Golden Star Warriors previously lifted the regional trophy in 2008, 2018 and 2024 but have never won consecutive editions.
Only Singapore and Thailand have previously managed to retain the regional crown. Singapore achieved the feat in 2004 and 2007, while Thailand have done so on three occasions: 2000-2002, 2014-2016 and 2020-2022.
Kim therefore wants his players to maintain the collective spirit that has carried them through the tournament.
“We absolutely have to win tomorrow. The players must continue to show the same loyalty and unity toward the team that they have demonstrated since the beginning of the tournament.”
Rajamangala also holds special memories for Kim and Vietnamese football. Under the 50-year-old coach, Vietnamese national teams have already celebrated two major titles at the Bangkok venue.
At the ASEAN Cup 2024, Vietnam defeated Thailand 3-2 in the second leg of the final at Rajamangala, completing a 5-3 aggregate victory in January 2025. Eleven months later, Kim led Vietnam U22 to another memorable triumph over the hosts, recovering from 2-0 down to beat Thailand 3-2 in the SEA Games 33 final.
Kim believes those victories can provide his players with additional confidence when they return to the same stadium for another decisive encounter.
Vietnam Face Shorter Recovery Time Than Thailand
Both teams are expected to have their strongest available squads for the final, but Vietnam have faced a more demanding preparation schedule.
Kim’s side had one fewer day to recover following the semifinal second leg and then had to travel from Hanoi to Bangkok. Thailand, meanwhile, were able to hold three training sessions ahead of the final, compared with Vietnam’s solitary session at Rajamangala on August 21.
Despite the disadvantage, Kim remains optimistic about his squad’s physical condition.
Thai media also reminded the Vietnam coach of his recent comment that he wanted Nguyen Xuan Son to score three goals across the two final legs. Kim responded with a laugh before revealing that Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Tai Loc are all in good condition.
The coach hopes Vietnam’s Brazilian-born players can make an important contribution in front of goal, while also highlighting what winning the championship would mean to those experiencing the ASEAN Cup for the first time.
“Son already has experience of becoming a champion, while Loc, Hen and goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang are competing in this tournament for the first time. I really want to see them wrapped in the Vietnamese flag and lifting the championship trophy.”
Vietnam Chase Another Historic Night Against Thailand
The first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final will take place at Rajamangala Stadium on August 22, before the two teams travel to Hanoi for the return leg at My Dinh National Stadium on August 26.
The away-goals rule will not apply, meaning the championship will be decided solely by the aggregate score across the two matches.
Historically, winning the opening leg has proved a strong indicator of who will eventually lift the trophy. One notable exception came in 2016, when Thailand lost 2-1 away to Indonesia before responding with a 2-0 home victory to become champions.
Thailand still hold the superior overall head-to-head record against Vietnam. Since 1995, the War Elephants have recorded 18 wins, eight draws and five defeats against their regional rivals.
The recent picture, however, is considerably more balanced. Across their last five meetings, Vietnam and Thailand have each won twice, with one match ending in a draw.
Vietnam can also draw confidence from their history against Thailand in ASEAN Championship finals. The two countries have met in the title decider three times, with Vietnam emerging champions in 2008 and 2024.
On both occasions, Vietnam produced decisive performances at Rajamangala Stadium.
Now, with an unprecedented successful title defense within reach, Kim Sang-sik believes his players are ready to make the famous Bangkok venue the setting for another memorable chapter in Vietnamese football history.
VSN/RPT
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