Indonesian media predicts Coach Kim Sang Sik is about to create a miracle with the Vietnam National Team.

Indonesian media believes Vietnam has the strength to retain the AFF Cup title under Coach Kim Sang Sik.

Indonesia's Bola Sport site recently published a noteworthy article about the opportunity to defend the Southeast Asian championship of the Vietnam national team at the 2026 AFF Cup.. According to the newspaper's assessment, Coach Kim Sang Sik has the opportunity to become the first strategist to help the "Golden Star Warriors" win two consecutive AFF Cups, something that has never happened in Vietnamese football history.

The Vietnam national team has reached the top of Southeast Asia three times in 2008, 2018, and 2024. However, after each championship, the team could not successfully defend the title. Under Coach Henrique Calisto, Vietnam won the 2008 AFF Cup but stopped in the semifinals in 2010. Similarly, Coach Park Hang Seo led the team to the 2018 AFF Cup championship before being eliminated in the semifinals of the 2020 AFF Cup. Therefore, winning consecutive titles is still considered an "unconquered milestone" for Vietnamese football.

Regarding the chances of Coach Kim Sang Sik, Bola Sport wrote: “Coach Kim Sang Sik can break the curse of the Vietnam national team at the Southeast Asian championship. Coach Kim's task is to defend the championship title for the Vietnam team at the 2026 AFF Cup”. According to the Indonesian newspaper, this will be a big challenge but completely within the capability of the South Korean strategist.

Bola Sport also pointed out that the Vietnam national team currently possesses many advantages compared to previous generations.. The newspaper analyzed: “The team led by Coach Kim Sang Sik is the champion of the 2024 AFF Cup. For this team, defending the title is much more difficult than winning it. In history, Vietnamese football has never won the Southeast Asian championship two times in a row”.

Assessing the strength of the Vietnam national team further, Bola Sport believes that the succession of players is a major difference. The newspaper stated: “In the past, when a generation of Vietnamese players passed their peak, decline appeared in the team due to lack of succession. But currently, Coach Kim Sang Sik has a great opportunity to end the curse that has lasted about two decades for Vietnamese football”.

In addition, Bola Sport particularly emphasized the role of Coach Kim Sang Sik and striker Nguyen Xuan Son. The Indonesian newspaper wrote: “First, Coach Kim himself has proven his ability with the 2024 AFF Cup championship. He has maximized the pragmatic playing style in the Vietnam national team. Second, the Vietnam team currently has a good squad, with each player maximizing their individual abilities. In particular, naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son is very formidable. He is the top scorer of the 2024 AFF Cup with 8 goals”. However, Bola Sport also noted that Thailand, Indonesia, as well as the teams of Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines will be major obstacles on the journey to defend the crown of the Vietnam national team at the 2026 AFF Cup.