KIM DECLARES VIETNAM READY FOR FINAL DEFENCE OF ASEAN HYUNDAI CUP™ TITLE

Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik has given his squad the all-clear ahead of the first leg of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 final against Thailand in Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Saturday as the Golden Star Warriors attempt to make history by defending their title for the first time.

The Vietnamese will be looking to add to the regional crowns won in 2008, 2018 and 2024 but, with the country never claiming consecutive titles, the South Korean coach has his eye on breaking new ground.



“After winning the last ASEAN Championship, we’re in the final again so this is history for Vietnam football and I don’t want to miss this chance,” said Kim, who was also in charge when the Vietnamese defeated Thailand in the 2024 decider.

“The players want to become champions and I hope we can prove that on the pitch. We’re the defending champions and we’re going to do everything to win.

“Currently all the players are preparing well. They’re all in good condition. I believe all the players will perform well in Rajamangala Stadium, we have good memories of winning here twice. So we have had the championship experience and everything’s going to be fine.”

Vietnam’s positive memories of the Rajamangala Stadium started in 2008 when Lê Công Vinh’s stoppage-time header earned his side a 1-1 draw to complete a 3-2 aggregate win that delivered the country’s maiden ASEAN Championship crown.

Kim’s team went one step further in 2024, securing a 3-2 victory in the iconic Bangkok venue to complete a 5-3 aggregate success that the former Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coach is attempting to emulate.

Vietnam go into the final in positive form with Nguyễn Xuân Son, the leading scorer at the last tournament, and Nguyễn Đình Bắc sharing top spot in the scoring charts with five goals each after their team secured their berth in the final with back-to-back 2-0 wins over Malaysia. Both players are tipped to contend for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 Most Valuable Player award which will be presented on Wednesday after the second leg final.  Each has earned the Hyundai Cup Player of the Match award in the earlier rounds.

“We’ve worked so hard for this moment,” said midfielder Đỗ Hoàng Hên. “We prepared well, we went to Korea to prepare.

“We are ready, we have been doing a very good job and I think it’s the right moment. We have to do a great first game and then go back to Vietnam and try to finish the work there.”

Hoàng Hên is one of three Brazil-born players, alongside Xuân Son and Nguyễn Tài Lộc, in the Vietnam squad and the Hanoi FC playmaker is determined to pick up his first title since gaining citizenship last year.

“For me of course it’s special, it’s my first tournament,” he said. “We already got the opportunity to be champions in the final.

“It’s very special for me. To represent Vietnam is something amazing. I’ve lived a long time in the country, I love Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. It would be special to give them this gift, especially with the second leg at home in front of our fans.”