Indonesia, 25 Sep 2026 – Coach Kim Sang-sik has stressed that his team will focus on winning one match at a time at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, while viewing the tournament as an important opportunity for his players to gain experience and prepare themselves for new challenges.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on September 25, Kim expressed his delight and honour at leading Vietnam into the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The South Korean coach said the immediate priority was to pursue victory in every match and deliver positive results for Vietnamese supporters, while also helping his players continue their development through competitive international football. “Through this tournament, I hope the players will gain more practical match experience and, from those experiences, mature and improve themselves to become outstanding professional players,” Kim said.
Despite Vietnam’s recent successes, Kim insisted that previous achievements should remain in the past and that his players must approach the new tournament with the mentality of taking on another challenge. “It is true that Vietnam have achieved many successes and won several titles. First of all, this has been thanks to the passionate support of Vietnamese fans, as well as the dedication, effort and sweat of the players,” he said. “At this tournament, our immediate objective is to try to win each match one by one. Only by accumulating those victories can we then look towards the bigger goal of competing for the championship.”
Vietnam have arrived at the tournament without several players due to injury, while Kim has also introduced a number of new faces to the squad. The coach acknowledged that many of his players are experiencing physical fatigue because they are in the middle of a demanding domestic season, but he remains confident in the replacements selected for the tournament. “The players are currently in the middle of a continuous run of matches, so they are somewhat fatigued physically, while several key players have unfortunately suffered injuries and could not join this training camp. However, the players who have been called up as replacements are all capable, talented players who are showing good form in the domestic league,” Kim explained. He added that Vietnam have traditionally responded strongly to difficult circumstances, saying: “Whenever our players face difficulties, they show even greater unity and make twice the effort to prove themselves on the pitch.”
Another major talking point was Kim’s decision to include young forward Nguyen Dinh Bac in Vietnam’s leadership group alongside captain Nguyen Hoang Duc and vice-captain Nguyen Xuan Son. Kim explained that the decision was intended to strengthen the connection between different generations within the national team. Although Dinh Bac is still young, the coach believes his fighting spirit and confidence can help bridge the gap between younger players and their more experienced teammates. “I believe Dinh Bac will be a bridge who helps the younger players communicate and connect more naturally with the senior players in the team. To build a strong and united group, every member must share and contribute together,” Kim said.
Captain Nguyen Hoang Duc, meanwhile, provided a positive update on his recovery from injury. The midfielder has not yet been able to train normally with the rest of the squad in recent days, but insisted he is prepared to play if selected. “The fact that I am here means I have always been ready for the matches. In terms of my physical condition, I have not been able to train with the team recently, but everything is progressing very well now. If I am included in the matchday squad, I will always give everything for the national team,” Hoang Duc said. Kim added that the decision over whether his captain starts or is introduced later in the match will depend on further assessments of his condition, with the coaching staff closely monitoring the fitness of every player before finalising the lineup.
For now, Vietnam’s full attention is on their opening Group B encounter against the Philippines, with Hoang Duc saying the squad are eager to begin their campaign with three points. “The whole team will definitely give everything in tomorrow’s match and try to achieve the best possible result, which is a victory,” the captain said.
Vietnam will face the Philippines at 7:30 p.m. on September 26 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung in their opening Group B match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.
VSN/RPT
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