Hanoi 26 July 2026 – The ASEAN Cup 2026 organizing committee has officially confirmed the officiating team for the upcoming group-stage match between Vietnam and Singapore on July 31, with experienced Japanese referee Hiroki Kasahara selected to take charge. Widely regarded as one of Japan’s strictest officials, Kasahara has earned a reputation as a “card specialist” due to his firm approach to discipline on the pitch.
Joining Kasahara on the officiating team will be fellow Japanese assistant referee Michiyama Satoshi, while the remaining two assistant referees, Rawut Nakarit and Wiwat Jumpaaon, are both from Thailand.
Born in 1989, Kasahara has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2020 and is among the most experienced match officials in Japanese football. Throughout his career in the J.League, he has officiated 110 matches, issuing 299 yellow cards—an average of 2.72 per game—along with 14 red cards and awarding 33 penalties, statistics that underline his strict enforcement of the Laws of the Game.
Kasahara is no stranger to Southeast Asian football, having previously officiated three ASEAN Championship tournaments. Vietnam fans may also remember him from the 2023 AFF U23 Championship final between Vietnam and Indonesia, a dramatic encounter that Vietnam won 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. That match also drew attention after then-Indonesia U23 head coach Shin Tae-yong strongly criticized several of Kasahara’s decisions following the final whistle.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam national team resumed training on the morning of July 26 after returning from Thailand following their emphatic 7-0 victory over Timor-Leste in the tournament opener. Head coach Kim Sang-sik and his players have now shifted their full focus to the clash with Singapore.
Vietnam also received encouraging news on the injury front, as forward Nguyen Tai Loc has fully recovered from his calf problem and has returned to full training. The young attacker is now available for selection and could feature against Singapore, providing Kim Sang-sik with another attacking option as the defending champions look to secure a second consecutive victory and move closer to the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals.
VSN/RPT
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