Vietnam’s Road to the AFC Asian Cup: Progress, Stars, and Fan Expectations
Let us start from the beginning: March 31. Thiên Trường Stadium, Ninh Bình. Vietnam versus Malaysia, 3–1. Six matches, six victories, and not a single defeat throughout the qualifying campaign. Vietnamese football is not generally accustomed to such flawless results on the continental stage.
That night, social media users clearly split into two camps. One side analyzed the tactics in detail, while the other rushed to upload celebratory stories before the trend passed. Some people also checked the odds on Melbet Việt Nam before kickoff. Nobody treated the money too seriously; it was simply another element that added excitement to watching the match. Yet behind Vietnam’s qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup was a development that had little to do with football itself.
Seven naturalized players from the Malaysian national team had used falsified documents. FIFA uncovered the issue, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected their appeal. As a result, Malaysia’s two victories over Vietnam and Nepal were overturned, with both matches recorded as 3–0 defeats. Vietnam entered the final round at the top of Group F with 15 points, six ahead of Malaysia.
However, the direct victory on March 31 was what truly mattered. It was at that moment that the team completed the campaign on its own terms. Next, let us look at several important details and specific developments.
Who Is Carrying the National Team?
Xuân Sơn is back. After suffering a horrific injury in the 2024 AFF Cup final against Thailand, he spent more than six months recovering. In the match against Laos, however, he returned to the starting lineup and scored, calmly converting a penalty without showing any signs of hesitation.
Tuân Hải scored the second goal. Philip Nguyễn protected the goal. Hoàng Đức, who missed the 2023 Asian Cup because of injury, has now become a crucial link in midfield. Several other players also deserve attention:
- Nguyễn Tiến Linh, who is consistently mentioned as the most reliable option from the bench, especially in matches where the team needs a striker with a completely different style from Xuân Sơn in terms of physical presence and off-the-ball movement.
- Đoàn Văn Hậu, provided he can stay fit.
- Quế Ngọc Hải, the experienced covering centre-back.
Vietnam climbed from 110th to 107th in the FIFA rankings after the match against Laos. The team then dropped back to 108th in January 2026, but is now beginning to move upward again.
Kim Sang-sik and a Completely Different Style of Play
The South Korean coach took charge in May 2024. Troussier left after the team failed to reach the third round of World Cup qualification. Kim Sang-sik’s first match ended in a 3–2 victory over the Philippines, immediately ending the poor run that had developed under his predecessor.
Troussier preferred possession-based football from deep positions, with the team attempting to build attacks from the goalkeeper. Kim Sang-sik chose a completely different approach: defensive stability first, speed and directness afterward. Many committed supporters have even installed Melbet app alongside their familiar sports news platforms so they do not miss important developments during the transfer season.
Two Previous Tournaments and One Upcoming Campaign
Vietnam’s performances in the two most recent Asian Cups were noticeably inconsistent.
| Asian Cup | Result | Notes |
| 2019, UAE | Reached the quarter-finals | Best result in the past two decades |
| 2023, Qatar | Eliminated in the group stage | Several key players were unavailable because of injury |
| 2027, Saudi Arabia | Qualified | Won all six qualifying matches |
In 2023, the starting lineup was missing several important players at the same time, including Vương Lâm, Vương Hào, Ngô Hải, and Tiền Lâm. The average age of the squad was 25.
The team faced severe criticism for disorganized football, the absence of a player capable of controlling the tempo, and a defence that repeatedly collapsed against fast opponents. The coaching staff will certainly not have forgotten those lessons.
What Are Fans Expecting in Saudi Arabia?
It is also important to note that the AFC is expected to sign an agreement with Viettel by the end of 2025. Under the agreement, TV360 will receive full broadcasting rights for Asian football competitions in Vietnam. The popularity of the tournament speaks for itself.
Against this background, supporters no longer want qualification merely as a form of entertainment. They want to see the national team win on the pitch, rather than benefit from decisions made in meeting rooms, as happened recently.
Every training session under Kim Sang-sik and every friendly match will be closely followed by the fans. The reason is simple: this generation of players is genuinely capable of producing excellent football.
