Laos received sponsorship from Doan Nguyen Duc for a two-week training camp at HAGL's Ham Rong headquarters in Gia Lai, preparing for the ASEAN Cup 2026. During their time in the mountain town, coach Grujic's team played 4 friendly matches, securing two wins against HAGL (4-2) and Thanh Nien TP HCM (2-1), alongside one 0-0 draw and one 2-3 loss, also against HAGL.

"My players have progressed with each match. It was a very beneficial training camp," coach Grujic stated. "We thank Doan Nguyen Duc personally and HAGL for their extensive support, from the fields and facilities to accommodation and cuisine. All were excellent. The friendly matches were also intense and high-quality."

The Laos national team (in red) played a friendly match against HAGL on 14/7 at Pleiku Stadium during their training camp in Gia Lai, preparing for the ASEAN Cup 2026. Photo: Hoang Tung

Coach Grujic, 60 years old, from Serbia, holds a UEFA Pro license. He previously worked at FC Tokyo, Cerezo Osaka (Japan), and Buriram United (Thailand), promising to help Lao football develop with a young squad averaging 22,9 years old. Among them are three players currently playing abroad: forward Damoth Thongkhamsavath (Thanh Hoa), and Phoutthasay Khochalern and Phutthavong Sangvilay, who play in Thailand.

At the ASEAN Cup 2026, Laos is in Group B with Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Myanmar. They will open their campaign against Thailand on 25/7 at the National Stadium in Vientiane. In 15 previous encounters, Laos has lost 12 matches to Thailand, drawn two, and secured one win in 1969 at the King’s Cup.

After thorough preparation, and with Thailand not at full strength, coach Grujic has set a challenging goal. "Thailand is very strong, but we have the home advantage. Notably, my two Thai assistant coaches work professionally and responsibly, helping us understand our opponent well. Laos' goal is to try and earn points, and who knows, the progress from this Ham Rong training camp might help us create an interesting surprise for our fans," Grujic confidently stated.

Coach Grujic answers an interview on the afternoon of 14/7 at Muong Thanh Hotel, Pleiku, during the training camp in Gia Lai in preparation for the ASEAN Cup 2026. Photo: Hoang Tung

The ASEAN Cup 2026 will take place from 24/7 to 8/8. Defending champion Vietnam is in Group A with Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor Leste. Group B features Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar. In the group stage, each team will play two home matches and two away matches.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, playing in a home-and-away format. The final will follow a similar format, with no third-place playoff.

After 15 editions, Thailand leads with 7 titles, secured in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2022. They are followed by Singapore (1998, 2004, 2007, 2012), Vietnam (2008, 2018, 2024), and Malaysia (2010).

Duc Dong