Coach Kim Sang Sik is likely not to directly lead the Vietnam national team in September.

In September, Coach Kim Sang Sik might not be present with the Vietnam national team for their two friendly games against CAHN and TX Nam Dinh.

As previously reported, both the U23 and the national Vietnam teams will gather simultaneously during the upcoming September FIFA Days. This time, the spotlight will be on the U23 squad as they prepare to compete in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers at home, while the national team won’t play again in the Asian Cup qualifiers until October.

However, to ensure the national team is well-prepared for October, they will still assemble in September. Quang Hai and his teammates are expected to play two internal friendlies against top V-League clubs, CAHN and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, scheduled for September 4th and 7th.

Meanwhile, the U23 Vietnam team will host the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers at Viet Tri Stadium, with three matches in Group C against Bangladesh (September 3), Singapore (September 6), and Yemen (September 9). Given this schedule and his desire to focus entirely on the U23 squad, it is highly likely that Coach Kim Sang Sik will not directly oversee the national team.

It’s very possible that for the two friendlies against CAHN and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Coach Kim Sang Sik will delegate the head coach role to one of his assistants, while he concentrates fully on the U23 team and the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Previously, the U22 Vietnam team was consistently given opportunities by the VFF to train alongside the national team during FIFA Days, allowing them to gain experience and thoroughly prepare for the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the 33rd SEA Games. This time, however, the U23 team is prioritized instead of the senior national team as before.

During earlier training camps, Coach Kim Sang Sik prioritized the national team and allowed assistant Dinh Hong Vinh to act as interim head coach for the U22 squad in several international friendlies. Starting with the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, the Korean coach has now taken direct charge of the U23 team for the first time.