Hanoi, 12 Oct 2026 – Cong An Ha Noi FC head coach Alexandre Polking believes home advantage could help his side secure a positive result against Japanese giants Kashima Antlers in their second AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 fixture, despite acknowledging the considerable challenge awaiting the Vietnamese champions.
Cong An Ha Noi FC will host Kashima Antlers at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi on October 13, looking to recover from a disappointing start to their maiden AFC Champions League Elite campaign. The Vietnamese side suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Gamba Osaka in their opening match, exposing the significant gap in quality and experience between the V.League 1 champions and some of Asia’s leading clubs. Their next opponents are expected to provide an even tougher test, with Kashima widely regarded as one of Japan’s strongest teams.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on October 12, Polking admitted that facing another high-quality Japanese opponent would be a major challenge for his players. However, the Cong An Ha Noi FC coach insisted that playing in front of their own supporters could make a meaningful difference as his side attempt to secure their first points of the competition.
“I believe that playing at home is an important advantage for our team. We have already gained experience from the match against Gamba Osaka, so we now understand the level and competitiveness of the AFC Champions League Elite,” Polking said. “Japanese clubs are always very strong and operate at a high level. However, with home advantage and the support of our fans, I see that as a foundation for us to aim for points, or even a victory.”
Cong An Ha Noi FC have faced a demanding schedule in the early stages of the season, with frequent travel and commitments across multiple competitions placing considerable pressure on the squad. Several Vietnamese internationals have also only recently returned from the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, leaving them with limited recovery time before resuming club duties. Nevertheless, Polking has been able to rely on the depth of his squad, particularly his foreign players, to manage the workload and maintain competitiveness on different fronts.
Kashima Antlers arrive in Hanoi with strong credentials. The Japanese side currently occupy sixth place in the J.League standings and strengthened their reputation with a 2-0 victory over Gamba Osaka on October 9. That result provides an indication of the challenge facing Cong An Ha Noi FC, especially given their own heavy defeat to the same opponents in the opening round. Even with the possibility of fielding his strongest available line-up, Polking will need his players to deliver a disciplined and organised performance to contain Kashima’s attacking threat.
Defender Adou Minh, who joined Polking at the pre-match press conference, also expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete against one of Asia’s leading clubs. He revealed that the coaching staff had already conducted detailed video analysis of Kashima Antlers, while emphasising that Cong An Ha Noi FC must remain focused on executing their own tactical approach.
“We are very excited to face a top-quality Asian opponent like Kashima Antlers. The whole team has held a video analysis session to study our opponents carefully,” Adou Minh said. “Although Kashima have a very strong squad, the most important thing is that we remain focused on our own style of play.”
The encounter represents another important opportunity for Cong An Ha Noi FC to measure themselves against elite continental opposition. While Kashima Antlers enter the match with a strong reputation and recent form, Polking hopes the atmosphere at Hang Day Stadium will inspire his players to produce a more competitive performance than they managed in Japan.
Cong An Ha Noi FC will face Kashima Antlers on October 13 at Hang Day Stadium, with the Vietnamese champions seeking their first points in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage.
VSN/RPT
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