Coach Kim Sang Sik made a strong statement ahead of Vietnam's AFF Cup match.

The press conference before the Vietnam vs Timor Leste match at the 2026 AFF Cup brought many noteworthy messages, with Coach Kim Sang Sik underlining the squad's confidence and Hoang Duc stating that the players have been well-prepared for an impressive display.

The Vietnam national team will officially begin their defense of the AFF Cup 2026 title against Timor Leste at 20:30 on July 24 at Chonburi Stadium (Thailand). In the pre-match press conference, Coach Kim Sang Sik and midfielder Hoang Duc both expressed confidence, asserting that the team has been meticulously prepared and is ready to aim for the first three points.

Opening the press conference, the South Korean strategist praised the preparation of the Vietnam team in recent times. He stated that the whole squad is in good shape both mentally and professionally ahead of the opening match. Notably, Coach Kim Sang Sik also sent a determined message about the team's objectives for the game against Timor Leste and the journey ahead.

"We are very happy to be participating in the tournament. The whole team is preparing to perform at our best in the first match and all subsequent games. We will fight with confidence and prepare well to secure victory," Coach Kim Sang Sik affirmed.

Speaking about the goal of defending the championship, the 49-year-old coach acknowledged that Vietnam will face considerable pressure following their success in the previous AFF Cup. However, he believes that the status of defending champions also brings confidence for the players to continue conquering challenges, aiming for a fourth title in history.

"It's true that we won the championship in the previous tournament, so there is associated pressure because this will not be an easy tournament. However, alongside the pressure, we also have confidence. The players all feel the weight of being champions, so they will fight with the goal of winning this tournament. We will prepare and strive in each match to perform well in the competition," he shared.

Coach Kim Sang Sik also spent a lot of time analyzing opponent Timor Leste. According to him, this team has many young, energetic players and has prepared thoroughly in terms of tactics. However, the Vietnam coaching staff has studied them carefully, identifying weaknesses to aim for a victory on the opening day.

"We have thoroughly studied Timor Leste. Vietnam brings many young players to the tournament, and so do they. Timor Leste will bring abundant energy and youth, and they have also prepared tactically to stop Vietnam. However, we have also discovered many weaknesses in the opponent and will take full advantage to secure a victory, thereby getting a good start," Coach Kim Sang Sik emphasized.

Additionally, the South Korean coach also recalled the lessons from Vietnam's three AFF Cup titles. He believes that the collective factor is always the foundation of success, and he hopes his players will play more proactively and enjoy the game more in this year's tournament. "We have won the AFF Cup three times, and each time it was extremely difficult. The same goes for the 2025 tournament, every match is tough. The whole team has learned the lesson: To win, we need to play as a team and fight with all our might. Entering this tournament, I really hope the players can take control of the game and enjoy it more, which will help us achieve better results. We will strive for three points in every match."

On his part, Hoang Duc, the midfielder from Ninh Binh, believes that the opening match always harbors many difficulties, but Vietnam is ready to deliver a convincing performance. "The first match always brings certain difficulties. However, the whole team has prepared thoroughly, we are very excited and ready to give our all. The team will try to create many dangerous situations and score many goals, while also delivering a good game."

Hoang Duc also revealed that the training camp in South Korea helped the team perfect many tactical patterns and improve cohesion. He acknowledged that the arrival of many new faces and naturalized players has made the competition for positions very fierce. In the context of Vietnam's impressive form with four consecutive wins in friendly matches and a 4-0 thrashing of Myanmar in the final rehearsal, the confident statements in the press conference further demonstrate the determination to secure all three points against Timor Leste to gain an early advantage in the race to defend the 2026 AFF Cup crown.

Pre-match information: Vietnam vs Timor Leste

Vietnam will face Timor Leste at 20:30 on July 24 at Chonburi Stadium (Thailand) in their opening match of the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup. Also in Group A with Vietnam are Indonesia, Singapore, and Cambodia, so a victory with a favorable goal difference will give the defending champions an ideal start for their title defense.

Timor Leste qualified for the group stage after defeating Brunei 6-1 on aggregate in the play-off round. Although their attack has made an impression thanks to scorers like Oatnasio da Silva and Claudio Osorio, the team of coach Pedro Alves Salazar is still considered significantly inferior to Vietnam. Their style of play, relying heavily on long passes and flank attacks, often leaves gaps exposed when transitioning to defense.

Meanwhile, Vietnam enters the tournament with impressive form. Kim Sang Sik's side have won all of their last five matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only three. The return of Nguyen Xuan Son adds strength to the attack, alongside dynamic players like Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Nguyen Dinh Bac, and Hoang Hen.

Although Timor Leste are considered the home team, they still have to play on a neutral ground in Thailand due to not meeting organizational requirements. If they play to their potential and capitalize on opportunities, Vietnam can completely secure a convincing victory on the opening day.