Hanoi, 18 February 2026 – After a historic and highly successful 2025, coach Kim Sang Sik is now in a strong position to continue shaping Vietnamese football’s legacy with even greater achievements in 2026.
The year 2025 marked a remarkable breakthrough for Vietnamese football, highlighted by a series of outstanding results that exceeded expectations. Most notably, Vietnam had seven national teams across different age groups qualify for Asian finals tournaments — an unprecedented achievement in the country’s football history.
At the senior level, Vietnam began the year in spectacular fashion by winning the ASEAN Cup 2024 on Thai soil. This triumph also marked the first major title for coach Kim Sang Sik since taking charge of the national team, solidifying his early impact.
Building on that momentum, the Vietnam Football Federation appointed Kim Sang Sik to lead the U23 national team at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. As defending champions, Vietnam successfully retained their title, becoming the first team in history to win the tournament three consecutive times.
Kim Sang Sik’s influence continued at the SEA Games 33 in Thailand, where he guided the U22 Vietnam team to an impressive gold medal victory. After a convincing group-stage campaign, Vietnam defeated the Philippines in the semifinals and produced a dramatic comeback to beat Thailand 3–2 in the final, securing the championship.
This SEA Games gold capped off a golden year for Vietnamese football. VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu praised the achievements, stating that 2025 represented one of the most successful periods in the nation’s football history. He emphasized that strong youth development programs played a key role in producing talented players who contributed significantly to the national teams’ success.
Following their triumphs in 2025, Kim Sang Sik and his players continued their impressive run at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. Despite initially aiming only to advance beyond the group stage, Vietnam delivered a stunning performance, winning all three group matches, including a notable victory over hosts and title contenders Saudi Arabia.
Vietnam’s momentum carried into the knockout rounds, where they defeated the UAE in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. Although they fell short against China, the team bounced back strongly to defeat South Korea in the third-place playoff, securing a bronze medal.
While they did not replicate the runner-up finish of the 2018 AFC U23 Asian Cup, Vietnam’s performance in Saudi Arabia earned widespread praise from international media and football experts, reinforcing the nation’s growing reputation in Asian football.
These achievements have firmly established Vietnam as one of Southeast Asia’s leading football nations while strengthening their standing on the continental stage. However, Kim Sang Sik’s journey is far from over. Major challenges await in 2026, including the ASEAN Cup 2026 and the Asian Games (ASIAD 20).
If Kim Sang Sik successfully leads Vietnam to defend their ASEAN Cup title, he could surpass the achievements of his predecessor Park Hang Seo. Furthermore, a strong performance at the Asian Games would offer the Korean coach another opportunity to create new milestones and further elevate Vietnamese football’s legacy.
VSN/RPT
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