Vietnam's national football team concluded the FIFA ASEAN Cup with a disappointing 0-1 loss to Malaysia in the third-place playoff on 5/10. This result came after a mixed group stage performance, where the team finished second in Group B with a 1-0 win over the Philippines, a 0-2 loss to Thailand, and a 4-2 victory against Pakistan. The outcome was particularly disappointing as the team had won the traditional ASEAN Cup for the fourth time just one month prior.

Nguyen Xuan Son (12) leaves the field after an injury during the 1-0 win against the Philippines in the first match of Group B, FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 First Division, at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung, Indonesia, on the evening of 26/9/2026. Photo: Duc Dong

According to former coach Doan Minh Xuong, the core issue was the players' form, which peaked during the ASEAN Cup one month earlier. When key players were absent, the team's play became disjointed, and gaps emerged. The finishing ability of Nguyen Xuan Son, the disruptive skills of Nguyen Quang Hai, or the defensive prowess of Nguyen Thanh Chung are not easily replaceable. New players, integrated only three days before the tournament, could not immediately synchronize, and breaks between the four matches were primarily for physical recovery.

"When players' physical and mental states are not optimal, it's hard to expect a quality performance", Mr. Xuong told VnExpress.

The consistent injuries appearing between the ASEAN Cup and the FIFA ASEAN Cup highlight player limitations. This also points to Vietnam's limited squad depth, with a small group of quality players overworked across multiple competitions for both the national team and their clubs. When players get injured, individuals, clubs, the national team, and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) all suffer.

"Vietnamese football must change its mindset regarding national team service to protect player health. The best players should only gather for FIFA Days to integrate with world football", Mr. Xuong analyzed. "Benefits among all parties need to be balanced. But players and clubs should also learn to say no, especially when showing signs of overload or injury."

The expert, born in 1959, who previously coached U20 Vietnam and several V-League clubs, proposed that tournaments like the ASEAN Cup should boldly send a U23 team combined with some experienced players. This change is necessary as the match load for Vietnam's top players is increasing, driven by clubs' desire to boost competitiveness in international arenas. In the 2026-2027 season, Hanoi Police (CAHN), which boasts about 10 national team players, is competing on four fronts: V-League, National Cup, AFC Champions League Elite, and ASEAN Club Cup. The Cong and Ho Chi Minh City Police are also playing on three fronts.

Immediately after the FIFA ASEAN Cup, many Vietnamese players did not return home but continued with their clubs for the ASEAN Club Cup. Le Giang Patrik, Ngo Dang Khoa, and William Minh Hoang traveled to Thailand with Ho Chi Minh City Police to face Ratchaburi on 7/10. Meanwhile, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh, Le Pham Thanh Long, Le Van Do, and Nguyen Dinh Bac headed to Singapore to join CAHN against Lion City Sailors on 8/10. Bui Hoang Viet Anh, however, returned to Vietnam for rest due to a minor injury.

In the future, the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) proposed Nations League, expected to be implemented from the 2028-2029 season, will compel Vietnam to adapt. At that time, each match during FIFA Days will carry greater significance, directly linking to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, and influencing the team's position in the AFC's competition system for subsequent cycles.

Expert Doan Minh Xuong likened the Vietnam national team to a car accustomed to smooth highways, which now needs to be improved to handle various terrains. "We cannot win the ASEAN Cup in August with the strongest squad, then use player overload as an excuse for poor performance in FIFA Days in September and October", he stated.

Striker Williams Minh Hoang (red shirt, left) plays in the 0-1 loss to Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place playoff at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia, on 5/10/2026. Photo: Hai Tu

Agreeing with this perspective, expert Bae Ji-won proposed enhancing the quality and scale of the national league. He noted: "Vietnam is developing various methods, including utilizing naturalized and overseas Vietnamese players, which is working well. But the foundation of youth training and the strength of domestic clubs are the true measure of a football nation's health."

Coach Bae Ji-won, born in 1963, played professionally in Korea and Germany. After retiring, he served as a fitness assistant coach for several clubs, including Pohang Steelers, Ulsan Hyundai, and U18 Bournemouth. In 2017, he became the fitness coach for the Vietnam national team and U23 under coach Park Hang-seo. After winning the AFF Cup 2018, he left to work in Hong Kong. In 2022, he joined The Cong Viettel as a fitness coach, then interim coach, before departing in the 2023 season. Subsequently, he worked briefly at Ninh Binh club at the end of the 2025-2026 season.

Regarding the technical aspects of the recent FIFA ASEAN Cup, Mr. Bae believes Vietnam has yet to overcome limitations in its attacking play. The team lacks ball circulation speed, and small groups of three or four players often lack confidence in short passing combinations in the opponent's half. The main style still relies on defensive solidity in a three center-back formation, followed by quick transitions from defense to attack, exploiting flanks or behind the opponent's defense. The positive aspect is that this style remains effective when Vietnam plays as an underdog in major tournaments like the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers.

"Who partners Hoang Duc is a detail that will surely trouble the coaching staff. At this point, Le Pham Thanh Long is the best option", he added. "Coach Kim Sang-sik will need to closely monitor this position in upcoming V-League matches. The difficulty is that defensive-minded central midfielders are quite rare in Vietnam. This position is therefore often given to foreign players."

Mr. Xuong also believes the coaching staff is certainly aware of the team's issues. These problems are not new but become clearer when facing opponents of similar or higher quality. This presents an opportunity for Vietnamese players to re-evaluate themselves, increase pressure on the coaching staff to implement quick changes, and motivate the team to progress.

The developments of Vietnam's 0-1 loss to Malaysia.

Hieu Luong