Opponent of Vietnam national team appoints coach who reached World Cup final

The UAE has officially appointed Zlatko Dalic, the coach who guided Croatia to the World Cup 2018 final, which is expected to pose a major test for Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup.

Ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup, the opponent in Group E with the Vietnam national team is UAE, which decided to appoint coach Zlatko Dalic, the strategist who led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and won third place in the 2022 World Cup. This is seen as a move showing the great ambition of UAE football in its journey to conquer major tournaments in Asia.

According to multiple sources from Serbia and the Middle East, the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has reached an agreement with Dalic on a contract extending until 2030. The 59-year-old manager is reportedly receiving a salary of up to 5 million Euros per year, which is more than three times the compensation he received when coaching the Croatia national team.

After nearly 9 years with the Croatia national team, Dalic ended one of the most successful eras in the history of the country's football. Under his guidance, Croatia repeatedly achieved miracles with the runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup and third place in 2022, while maintaining its status as one of the strongest teams in Europe.

The decision to choose UAE also came as a surprise, as Dalic had previously received interest from several major football nations such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Colombia. However, the West Asian team prevailed thanks to an attractive compensation package and a working environment that the Croatian strategist considered very suitable.

This move will certainly require coach Kim Sang-sik to pay special attention. At the 2027 Asian Cup, UAE will be one of the direct competitors with the Vietnam national team. With the arrival of a coach experienced on the World Cup stage, the West Asian team is expected to elevate both its tactics and competitive spirit.

Not only aiming for success at the Asian Cup, UAE also shows a long-term plan to secure a spot in the 2030 World Cup. The heavy investment in the coaching staff is clear evidence of its ambition to become a new power in Asian football.

Meanwhile, Dalic's decision also forced the Korea Football Association (KFA) to change its plans for finding a head coach. After Hong Myung-bo resigned due to disappointing results at the 2026 World Cup, Dalic was once one of the brightest candidates, but ultimately the Croatian strategist chose UAE.

With the arrival of Zlatko Dalic, the competition at the 2027 Asian Cup promises to be much fiercer, and the Vietnam national team will have to prepare thoroughly if they want to overcome a UAE that is now led by a coach who has reached the World Cup final.