Indonesia, 27 Sep 2026 – Vietnam suffered a significant injury concern despite opening their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Philippines, as striker Nguyen Xuan Son was forced off in the second half with a suspected hamstring problem.
Xuan Son was unable to complete the match against the Philippines after picking up the injury during the second half. Speaking after the game, head coach Kim Sang-sik revealed that the striker appeared to have suffered a hamstring issue, although the extent of the injury has yet to be determined. His availability for Vietnam’s next Group B encounter against regional rivals Thailand therefore remains uncertain.
“Regarding Xuan Son, it appears that he has suffered a hamstring injury. As a coach, I feel very sad about it. He seems to be in quite a lot of pain, but I hope this is not a very serious injury,” Kim said.
The South Korean coach acknowledged that losing Xuan Son for an extended period would represent a major setback for Vietnam, particularly with an important match against Thailand approaching. However, Kim remains confident in the depth of his squad and believes other attacking options, including Nguyen Dinh Bac, are ready to step up and take on greater responsibility if required.
Vietnam will now turn their attention to Thailand, who made an impressive start to their tournament with a 4-0 victory over Pakistan. Kim confirmed that he watched Thailand’s opening match and, although Vietnam’s coaching staff have yet to complete a full analysis of their opponents, he stressed the need for thorough preparation against a team he continues to hold in high regard.
“Thailand have always been a strong team, and they played a good match against Pakistan. Pakistan are also a team with very good physical strength. Therefore, we need to prepare very carefully,” Kim said.
The potential absence of Xuan Son adds another challenge for Vietnam as they prepare for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the group stage. Vietnam will face Thailand at 7:30 p.m. on September 29 in their second match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.
VSN/RPT
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