Cambodia wins 4-0, sending a warning to Vietnam ahead of the AFF Cup

Cambodia's squad flexed its muscle by beating Bhutan 4-0, signaling significant improvement before the 2026 AFF Cup, where Vietnam is also competing.

The Cambodian national team is showing serious and ambitious preparations ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup. In a friendly match during the June FIFA Days series, the representative of the Angkor Kingdom delivered an impressive performance, crushing Bhutan 4-0 and thereby issuing a warning to group opponents, including the Vietnam national team.

Under the guidance of coach Koji Gyotoku, Cambodia continues its strategy of upgrading squad quality by adding multiple naturalized players. Alongside familiar names like Hikaru Mizuno, Yudai Ogawa, Abdel Kader Coulibaly, and Andrés Nieto, the team has also just welcomed central midfielder Alisher Mirzaev, a player of Uzbek origin who previously represented Uzbekistan U16 before switching to Cambodia.

The blend of local players and naturalized stars is making Cambodia's play more cohesive and effective. Against Bhutan, the blue-shirted side quickly took control of the match, applying constant pressure on the opponent's half. Within the first half, Cambodia had already built a 2-0 lead, with naturalized striker Abdel Kader Coulibaly once again proving his formidable goal-scoring ability.

In the second half, Cambodia did not let up its attacking tempo. The quick combinations and technical skill of the naturalized players continued to make the difference. Japanese-born midfielder Yudai Ogawa left his mark with a clever assist that allowed Dimong Sophal to score, helping the team add two more goals and seal a convincing 4-0 victory.

Although Bhutan is not considered a top-tier opponent, Cambodia's display still provided many positive signs. Beyond improving personnel quality, the Angkor team showed progress in tactical organization, ball possession, and finishing efficiency. These factors make them a notable dark horse for the upcoming AFF Cup.

According to the draw results, Cambodia is placed in Group A of the 2026 AFF Cup alongside Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the winner of the playoff between Timor-Leste and Brunei. With their rising form and an increasingly strengthened squad, coach Koji Gyotoku's men have every reason to aim for an upset. Meanwhile, the Vietnam national team will certainly have to pay close attention to this opponent, which is showing remarkable progress.