Coach Kim Sang-sik addressed the media at a press conference held at 4:30 PM at Chonburi Stadium in Thailand, ahead of Vietnam's first match in the ASEAN Cup 2026.

Vietnam is set to face Timor Leste at 8:30 PM on Friday, 24/7, with the match broadcast live on VnExpress. This encounter marks the opening fixture for both teams in Group A of the tournament and will be their first meeting in history.

South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik holds a press conference before a friendly match between Vietnam and Cambodia at Binh Duong Stadium, TP HCM on 18/3/2025. *Photo: Duc Dong*

Timor Leste secured its place in the ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage after defeating Brunei 6-1 over a two-legged playoff in June. Coach Ze Pedro's team now faces the reigning champions, Vietnam, in a challenging opening fixture.

Vietnam, currently ranked 99th by FIFA, holds a significant advantage, sitting 102 places above Timor Leste. Coach Kim's squad is widely regarded as superior due to its player quality and a history of three Southeast Asian championships. In contrast, Timor Leste has exited in the group stage in all four of its previous tournament appearances. With a population of about 1,4 million and a developing national league, Timor Leste often relies on players of mixed heritage from Europe or Australia.

For Coach Kim Sang-sik, Timor Leste and Brunei represent the only two opponents he has not yet faced. Against the other 8 teams, his coaching record stands at 14 wins, one draw, and one loss. His sole defeat was a 1-2 loss to Thailand in a friendly match in 2024. Vietnam also boasts a perfect record in ASEAN Cup opening matches, a streak that dates back to 2016 when the tournament was known as the AFF Cup.

Duc Dong - Hieu Luong