Vietnam national team has a launchpad to win the 2026 ASEAN Cup

Vietnam's preparation for the 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign has undergone critical trial phases. The three training games in South Korea and the official friendly with Myanmar were not just about evaluating the roster; they also sketched the blueprint of an upgraded Vietnam team full of potential.

In the friendly match against Myanmar, coach Kim Sang Sik no longer had to be cautious with experiments. The South Korean strategist fielded his strongest strategic cards right before the region's most important tournament. The combination of technical skills from new talents and the resilient spirit of domestic players like Xuan Manh or Dinh Bac is creating a diverse and unpredictable collective.

Observing the friendly against Myanmar reveals a new operational formula that coach Kim Sang Sik has been diligently building. The most notable highlight of this period is the successful integration of naturalized players into the general system. The presence of Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc provides a direct answer to the issues of physicality and dueling ability, chronic obstacles for Vietnamese football when stepping onto bigger stages.

Through the training matches in South Korea and the clash with Myanmar, this trio demonstrated modern tactical thinking and quick adaptability. They did not miss a beat but instead acted as a framework, shielding and supporting the surrounding satellites to develop.

The presence of newcomers did not overshadow the value of the old pillars. On the contrary, the midfield pair Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc found more spacious areas to fully unleash their qualities. Hoang Duc, in his role as the midfield orchestrator, still retained his characteristic smooth turns to escape pressing. However, at this stage, Hoang Duc showed a more direct and aggressive style, becoming an effective link to transfer the ball from the back to the front.

Meanwhile, captain Quang Hai was "liberated" in terms of playing space thanks to the power of the naturalized midfielders. This allows Quang Hai to easily release sharp through balls or long-range shots with his trademark style, which was previously limited when he had to drop deep to support defense.

Alongside the stability of the seniors, the youthful breeze from Hai Long and Dinh Bac brings the necessary explosiveness. After the training camp in South Korea, Hai Long showed remarkable growth in off-ball movement and the ability to exploit spaces between the lines.

As for Dinh Bac, his speed and bold dribbling style become a heavy weapon in fast counterattacks. With just a little space, this striker can single-handedly cause trouble for the opponent's defense with powerful bursts of acceleration. The next variations that coach Kim Sang Sik will bring to the ASEAN Cup are likely other surprises from unexpected long-range shots by Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Hoang Hen, or wing breakthroughs by Dinh Bac and Hai Long.

It may be too early to draw conclusions from these training and friendly matches, but part of the fresh face of the Vietnam national team is already visible. This is an upgraded version of the previous squad with quality additions from naturalized players. With rich experience and years of playing together, the current squad has more speed, faster transitions thanks to youth, and a classy midfield spine.

There, coach Kim Sang Sik has found the optimal combination of experience, youthful energy, and naturalized steel. This is a launchpad as solid as possible for fans to expect an explosive 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign from the Vietnam national team.