Vietnam are setting their sights on the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, but for coach Kim Sang Sik and his players, the tournament from September 24 to October 5 is about more than results.

An important tournament

The FIFA ASEAN Cup is being held for the first time, giving the tournament particular significance for Southeast Asia’s national teams.

For Vietnam, this is more than simply another regional competition under a new name. It is an opportunity for Kim Sang Sik’s side to further cement their standing after winning the ASEAN Cup 2026.

With that in mind, the South Korean coach is certain to devote considerable attention to preparing Vietnam as thoroughly as possible for the tournament in Indonesia, with a place in the final the immediate target.

Vietnam are also taking the competition seriously not only to reaffirm their status as reigning ASEAN Cup champions, but also to improve their position in the FIFA rankings.

The prospect of winning the inaugural edition of the tournament, which also offers substantial prize money, provides another reason for Kim and Vietnam to make the FIFA ASEAN Cup a high priority.

But results are not everything

Important as the upcoming tournament in Indonesia may be, Kim is also likely to use the FIFA ASEAN Cup as a major test for Vietnam ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup.

It will be a serious examination that can show the Southeast Asian champions where they currently stand, what they are still lacking and how much further they can progress before stepping onto the continent’s biggest stage.

After winning the Southeast Asian title, Vietnam have relatively little left to prove at regional level.

What Kim needs now is not simply another trophy, but a way to take the quality of Vietnam’s football to another level.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup could therefore provide an ideal opportunity for Kim to reassess his team’s strength, from the quality and depth of the squad to how effectively his system operates.

Those weaknesses and strengths have not always been easy to identify over the past two years, when Vietnam have entered many matches as favorites.

The South Korean coach also needs to use the tournament to experiment and carefully assess different options, giving Vietnam more solutions when they face stronger opposition at competitions such as the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Put simply, the FIFA ASEAN Cup gives Kim an opportunity to review every aspect of his team and gain a clearer understanding of Vietnam’s true strength before setting more specific and ambitious targets for the future, with the 2027 Asian Cup finals the most immediate major objective.

Duy Nguyen