Vietnam currently sits third in Group A with 4 points, trailing Indonesia by two points and Singapore by three points. The goalless draw against Singapore at My Dinh Stadium last week has put pressure on Vietnam to secure a win and keep pace with their rivals.

Nguyen Tai Loc dribbles during the Vietnam vs. Singapore match at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi on the evening of 31/7, during the ASEAN Cup 2026. *Hieu Luong*

The winner of this match will secure a spot in the semi-finals. However, even with a loss, Indonesia could still control their destiny when they face Singapore in the final group stage match on 7/8. For coach Kim Sang-sik's team, a loss or a draw would mean losing control of their progression in the tournament.

Vietnam held an advantage over Indonesia from 2018 to 2022, recording three wins and two draws. However, Indonesia's policy of naturalizing players of Dutch heritage has shifted the balance of power. This, combined with Vietnam's struggles under former coach Philippe Troussier, allowed Indonesia to achieve three consecutive victories against Vietnam for the first time in the Asian Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

This encounter also presents an opportunity for Indonesia's Dutch-origin players, even if not all are present, to demonstrate their capabilities against Vietnam. Conversely, Vietnam's Brazilian-origin players must prove their superiority over domestic players, especially after their subpar performance against Singapore.

Vy Anh