Defender Pham Xuan Manh speaks to the media before the afternoon training session at Legends Academy, Chonburi, Thailand, on 22/7. Photo: Duc Dong

Xuan Manh, who was part of the team that won the ASEAN Cup in 2024, remains a key figure in Coach Kim's defensive plans for the title defense. "Winning is difficult, defending is even harder," Xuan Manh stated before the afternoon training session on 22/7 in Chonburi, located about 100 km southeast of Bangkok. "This year, the opponents are also strong and more evenly matched. Although we know it will be challenging, we will overcome it. The entire team will play with dedication, unite, and support each other to strive to protect what we have achieved."

For the ASEAN Cup, Vietnam completed a three-week training camp in South Korea, securing three friendly victories. The team then defeated Myanmar 4-0 in a friendly in Thai Nguyen. Following these preparations, Xuan Manh and his teammates traveled to Thailand for their opening match against Timor Leste.

During training sessions in Thailand, Coach Kim emphasized deep defense while also developing a total offense strategy. The team boasts several skilled attackers, including the naturalized trio of Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Tai Loc, alongside rising star Dinh Bac.

Xuan Manh stated that the team had a strong start, securing four friendly wins. Despite this, they conducted multiple meetings to analyze performances, identifying areas for improvement. "We lost our captain and center-back Duy Manh, which is an unfortunate setback," Xuan Manh commented. "Consequently, Coach Kim has developed optimal defensive strategies, fostering communication among myself, Nhat Minh, Van Hau, and Thanh Chung to ensure cohesive play and minimize goals conceded."

Defender Pham Xuan Manh trains at Legends Academy, Chonburi, Thailand, on the afternoon of 22/7, in preparation for the opening match against Timor Leste in ASEAN Cup 2026. Photo: Duc Dong

Despite Vietnam's perfect winning record against Timor Leste, Xuan Manh stated that the team is prioritizing self-improvement over opponent analysis. "Vietnam has not analyzed Timor Leste yet. Currently, we are focusing on the best strategies for our team. We need to establish our optimal playing style first, then we will analyze our opponents," he explained.

The ASEAN Cup 2026 is scheduled from 24/7 to 26/8. Defending champions Vietnam are placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor Leste. Group B features Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar. Each team in the group stage will play two home and two away matches.

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

Over 15 tournaments, Thailand holds the most titles with 7 victories (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022). Singapore follows with 4 titles (1998, 2004, 2007, 2012), Vietnam with 3 (2008, 2018, 2024), and Malaysia with 1 (2010).

Duc Dong