After a disappointing home draw against Singapore, Vietnam reasserted their champion status with a convincing 3-0 victory over Indonesia. Coach Kim Sang-sik's squad currently leads Group A with 7 points, matching Singapore but boasting a superior goal difference (+10 compared to +3). Indonesia sits third, one point behind, while Cambodia and Timor Leste are eliminated.

Vietnam midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (19) played in a 2-1 friendly win against Cambodia at Binh Duong Stadium, now part of TP HCM, on 19/3/2025. *Duc Dong*

Theoretically, Vietnam faces elimination only if they suffer a 0-9 defeat against Cambodia and Indonesia simultaneously secures a 1-0 victory over Singapore. In such a scenario, Vietnam's goal difference would drop to +1, falling behind Singapore's +2. However, Cambodia has consistently lost all 11 previous encounters with Vietnam since 1995, scoring a mere 8 goals while conceding 48. Cambodia's Japanese coach Koji Gyotoku expressed a faint hope, stating, "Who knows, there might be a surprise in the 12th match." Still, most media and fans consider this an impossible task.

Cambodia is already out of contention, yet Vietnam remains highly motivated. Due to their goal difference advantage, a victory will almost certainly secure Vietnam the top position in Group A, irrespective of the Singapore - Indonesia match outcome. Securing first place offers several benefits, primarily the opportunity to host the return legs of both the semifinals and the final. This also allows Vietnam to avoid the probable Group B winner, Thailand – a more formidable opponent that would demand greater effort in the semifinals.

Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (right) trains at My Dinh Stadium on 6/8/2026, ahead of the match against Cambodia in the final Group A fixture of the ASEAN Cup 2026. *Hieu Luong*

A victory will also help coach Kim and the players regain confidence at My Dinh National Stadium. This venue holds memories of Vietnam lifting the Southeast Asian Cup twice, but has also seen disappointing outcomes, most recently the draw against Singapore on an unlucky night. Vietnam's last win at this stadium was on 6/6/2024, which also marked coach Kim's debut, a 3-2 victory over the Philippines in the World Cup 2026 – Asia qualifiers.

"We haven't scored at My Dinh Stadium in a long time. The draw against Singapore caused the entire team much regret," coach Kim stated. "I hope a large crowd of fans attends and offers strong support. We will give our utmost effort against Cambodia to deliver a positive result."

With group stage qualification appearing certain, squad rotation becomes simpler, allowing players to maintain peak fitness for subsequent critical matches. The past two weeks have highlighted coach Kim Sang-sik's strength in squad rotation. Even captain Nguyen Quang Hai and prominent players like Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen are part of this strategy, prioritizing the team's overall objective. Yesterday, during the training session at My Dinh Stadium, Son, Hen, Nguyen Tai Loc, Dang Van Lam, and Doan Van Hau, who were not in optimal condition, were immediately sent back to the hotel to recover, underscoring Kim's consistent approach.

The Korean coach also believes in giving opportunities to all players. After three matches, 19 players have already played. Six players have yet to feature: goalkeepers Van Lam, Tran Trung Kien; defenders Dinh Quang Kiet, Khong Minh Gia Bao; and midfielders Nguyen Ngoc My and Le Van Do. These players are likely to start or enter the game if the team establishes a comfortable lead.

Hieu Luong