Hanoi, 3 Nov 2026 – Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) officially unveiled the Casper Cup 2026 on November 3, confirming that Vietnam will face Taiwan and. Kyrgyzstan in a three-team international friendly tournament at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh from November 11 to 17. The competition will form part of head coach Kim Sang-sik’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
The tournament announcement ceremony was attended by senior representatives of Vietnamese football and sports authorities, including Vietnam Sports Authority Deputy Director Le Thi Hoang Yen, VFF Vice Presidents Nguyen Trung Kien and Nguyen Xuan Vu, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, and national team head coach Kim Sang-sik. Representatives of the tournament’s title sponsor, Casper Vietnam, were also present, including National Sales Director Vu Nam Phuong.
Speaking at the ceremony, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu emphasised the importance of the tournament in Vietnam’s preparations for upcoming international competitions, particularly the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The November FIFA international window will allow Kim Sang-sik and his coaching staff to assess player fitness and form, review potential squad selections and improve tactical coordination against opponents with different playing styles. Phu also thanked Casper Vietnam for supporting the competition and helping create additional opportunities for the national team to gain international match experience.
Representing the sponsor, Vu Nam Phuong highlighted Casper’s continued involvement in Vietnamese football since 2022. The company has previously supported V.League awards, the 2023/24 Casper National Cup and football broadcasting programmes. Through the Casper Cup 2026, the sponsor hopes to contribute further resources to Vietnamese football while promoting teamwork, determination and sporting ambition among supporters, particularly younger generations.
VFF Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Minh Chau also stressed that the tournament would provide valuable opportunities to evaluate players competing in Vietnam’s professional leagues. The coaching staff will use the matches to assess individual performances, strengthen squad depth and identify the most suitable combinations ahead of the national team’s international commitments in 2027.
The Casper Cup 2026 will feature Vietnam, Taiwan and Kyrgyzstan in a single round-robin format, with each team facing the other two once to determine the final standings. Taiwan enter the tournament with several experienced players, including midfielder Chen Po-liang, who has recorded 98 international appearances and 25 goals. Other notable names include forward Ange Kouame, midfielder Yen-Shu Wu and attacking midfielder Emilio Estevez. Taiwan previously defeated Timor-Leste 7-0 on aggregate in the first round of Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kyrgyzstan are expected to provide another competitive challenge, having established themselves as a regular participant in major Asian competitions. The Central Asian side reached the round of 16 at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and also participated in the 2023 edition, with qualification for the 2027 tournament marking another milestone. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Kyrgyzstan finished second in Group D of the second round to reach the third qualifying round for the first time in their history.
Their squad includes several experienced internationals, such as Joel Kojo, Gulzhigit Alykulov, Valeriy Kichin and Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov. The latter will be particularly familiar to Vietnamese supporters, as he currently plays for Thanh Hoa FC in V.League 1 2026/27 and serves as the club’s captain. Abdurakhmanov played an important role in Kyrgyzstan’s historic World Cup qualifying campaign and received the country’s Silver Ball award in 2024.
Vietnam are scheduled to assemble on November 9, following the completion of Round 7 of V.League 1. This timing will allow Kim Sang-sik and his assistants to assess players’ performances during the opening stages of the domestic season before finalising the squad for the international fixtures.
With two visiting teams offering different tactical approaches and international experience, the Casper Cup 2026 is expected to provide Vietnam with meaningful competitive tests. The tournament will also give Kim Sang-sik an opportunity to experiment with his lineup, strengthen team cohesion and evaluate potential additions as preparations continue for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
VSN/RPT
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