The Vietnam national football team achieved an impressive 10-match winning streak against regional rivals, a feat that equals a Southeast Asian record. This remarkable run culminated in a 3-1 victory over Malaysia in the final match of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on 31/3/2026.

This record-breaking streak began after a 1-1 draw against the Philippines in the ASEAN Cup 2024 group stage. The team then defeated Myanmar 5-0 on 21/12/2024 in the group stage, followed by wins against Singapore (2-0, 3-1 in the semifinals) and Thailand (2-1, 3-2 in the final) to claim the ASEAN Cup 2024 title.

Vietnam continued its dominance over regional opponents by securing a 2-1 friendly victory against Cambodia, followed by two wins against Laos (5-0 and 2-0). Sandwiched between these matches was today's 3-1 win over Malaysia in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Across these 10 victories, the national team scored 30 goals while conceding only six.

The Vietnam national team celebrates the opening goal in their match against Malaysia during the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers at Thien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh ward, Ninh Binh province, on the evening of 31/3/2026. *Photo: Duc Dong*

At Thien Truong Stadium, Vietnam delivered a convincing performance to conclude their Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign. All three goals for the team came from aerial plays. In the 6th minute, captain Do Duy Manh rose to head in Truong Tien Anh's corner kick from the right flank, opening the scoring. In the second half, Vietnam continued to effectively utilize crosses. In the 51st minute, Nguyen Hai Long threaded a pass to Do Hoang Hen, who advanced down the right wing and crossed for Nguyen Xuan Son to head in at the near post, extending the lead to 2-0. Eight minutes later, another cross from Tien Anh on the right flank found Xuan Son, who headed it into the far corner to complete his brace. Malaysia managed to pull one goal back, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.

This achievement by head coach Kim Sang-sik's squad matches a Southeast Asian record previously set by Myanmar between 1966 and 1968. During that period, Myanmar also recorded 10 consecutive wins against regional opponents, scoring 24 goals and conceding only two.

Indonesia's longest winning streak against Southeast Asian rivals stands at nine matches, achieved between 1968 and 1969. Thailand's longest streak, by comparison, was six matches in 1993.

Considering all opponents, including those from outside the region, head coach Kim's team has now secured 13 consecutive victories across all competitions, marking another Southeast Asian record. The teams with the next best records are Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, each with a nine-match winning streak.

Tonight's victory marks the 17th time Vietnam has defeated Malaysia at the senior national team level since rejoining international football. No other team has lost to Vietnam more often, with Laos being the next closest opponent with 15 losses.

Kim's squad also established a milestone of 10 consecutive home victories. The last team to avoid defeat on Vietnamese soil was India, in a 1-1 friendly draw on 12/10/2024.

Under head coach Kim, Vietnam has played 21 matches, recording 16 wins, two draws, and three losses. His win rate improved from 75% to 76% after the match at Thien Truong. Among head coaches who have led the national team for three or more matches, Kim boasts the highest win rate. For comparison, head coach Park Hang-seo's win rate with the national team was 47%.

However, under the 49-year-old head coach, Vietnam has only faced six opponents from outside Southeast Asia. Having already secured a spot in the Asian Cup 2027, the team will have opportunities to compete against more top-tier regional opponents. This will provide head coach Kim with further chances to demonstrate his capabilities.

Xuan Binh