Hanoi, 23 August 2026 – Thailand wasted little time returning to training following their 2-0 home defeat to Vietnam in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final, while the Golden Star Warriors faced an unexpected delay to their journey back to Hanoi due to Tropical Storm No. 4.
On the afternoon of August 23, head coach Anthony Hudson and his players resumed training at BG Pathum’s training base in Pathum Thani, beginning preparations for the decisive second leg at My Dinh National Stadium.
The mood was understandably subdued following Thailand’s disappointing defeat at Rajamangala Stadium the previous evening. Hudson and captain Sarach Yooyen spoke to the squad, encouraging the players to remain focused and turn their attention toward the return fixture in Hanoi on August 26.
Before the training session, defender Oussama Thiangkham admitted the result had been difficult to accept but insisted Thailand’s hopes of winning the championship were not over.
“We have just been through a very disappointing match. The team played well and everyone did their job, but we were unable to take the chances we created. However, the final is played over two legs. There is still another match to come, and nothing is over yet.”
Oussama added that Thailand would continue fighting for a victory in Hanoi as the War Elephants attempt to overturn their two-goal deficit.
During the session, Hudson divided his squad into two groups. Players who featured heavily in the first leg focused primarily on recovery exercises, while the remaining members of the squad worked on tactical drills and potential plans for the return match.
Thailand are scheduled to travel to Vietnam on the morning of August 24, giving Hudson’s squad two days to train in Hanoi before taking to the field at My Dinh.
With the away-goals rule not in use for the ASEAN Cup 2026 final, Thailand must win by at least two goals in the second leg to have any chance of forcing the contest into extra time.
While Thailand immediately returned to work, Vietnam were given August 23 to rest and recover following their impressive victory in Bangkok.
Kim Sang-sik’s squad had originally been scheduled to depart Bangkok for Hanoi at 15:55 on August 23. However, the flight was pushed back to 17:50 due to the impact of Tropical Storm No. 4, delaying the team’s departure by almost two hours.
The disruption comes during an important recovery period for Vietnam, who already faced a demanding schedule heading into the first leg after completing their semifinal against Malaysia only days earlier.
Despite the travel delay, Vietnam return home holding a commanding advantage after second-half goals from Nguyen Hai Long and captain Nguyen Quang Hai secured a historic 2-0 victory at Rajamangala.
The Golden Star Warriors are scheduled to resume training on the afternoon of August 24 at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, where Kim and his coaching staff will begin final preparations for the title-deciding encounter.
Vietnam and Thailand will meet again at My Dinh National Stadium on August 26, with the defending champions carrying a two-goal advantage into the second leg as they look to successfully retain their Southeast Asian crown.
VSN/RPT
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