Malaysia chose Kuala Lumpur Stadium, with a capacity of 18,000 seats, to host the ASEAN Cup matches because Bukit Jalil Stadium is currently undergoing renovations for the SEA Games 2027.

This stadium has a history of memorable matches for Vietnamese football, having witnessed Nguyen Cong Phuong and his teammates achieve resounding victories against Australia (5-1), Hong Kong (5-6), and Chinese Taipei (6-1) during the U19 Asian Championship qualifiers in 2014.

{"caption_all":"A drawback of this stadium is its use of a hard, thick carpet grass pitch, which differs from softer, flatter surfaces. Consequently, during the afternoon training session on 15/8, coach Kim arrived half an hour earlier than the scheduled 5 p.m. start to observe and thoroughly examine the pitch. He walked around the field, testing the grass.","caption_items":"["","",""]"}

The semi-final match is scheduled for 9 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Hanoi time). However, organizers arranged the Vietnam team's practice for 5 p.m., a time when the sun is still strong. In contrast, host Malaysia trained at 6:30 p.m., when the weather was cooler.

To maximize their one hour of familiarization time, the players arrived early, changed, and began warming up on the sidelines, waiting for their turn to step onto the pitch.

{"caption_all":"Speaking at a press conference on the morning of 15/8, striker Nguyen Xuan Son stated that he does not prefer playing on such a pitch. However, he clarified that it is not a major obstacle, as he has previously played on similar surfaces at Go Dau Stadium and Gia Lai.","caption_items":"["",""]"}

According to Tran Anh Tu, head of the Vietnam delegation, the hard pitch is not a disadvantage for Vietnam, as professional players are expected to adapt. He also revealed that the coaching staff has prepared the best solutions, including appropriate boots and studs for this type of grass.

Despite the team's preparations, coach Kim appeared contemplative and concerned during the training session. He noted that such pitches often increase the risk of player injuries. Notably, host Malaysia also lost three players to injuries after the group stage.

{"caption_all":"Vietnam currently holds an advantage in head-to-head encounters against Malaysia, with 17 wins, three draws, and five losses. Nevertheless, coach Kim Sang-sik consistently reminds his players to remain serious and respect their opponents. This approach aims to achieve a favorable result in tomorrow's match on 16/8, setting a strong foundation for the return leg at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, on 19/6.","caption_items":"["",""]"}

Duc Dong (from Kuala Lumpur)