The next squad announcement for the Vietnam national football team by coach Kim Sang Sik is expected to be carefully calculated, combining experimentation with strategic planning for upcoming objectives.

Experimentation

The latest ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which rejected Malaysia’s appeal, is reshaping the situation in Group F of the Asian Cup qualifiers.

There is a strong possibility that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will soon announce the annulment of matches in which Malaysia fielded ineligible naturalized players. If that happens, the sole ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup from the group would belong to the team coached by Kim Sang Sik.

As a result, the match against Malaysia at Thien Truong Stadium on March 31 may no longer carry the “do or die” significance it once had.

In that context, the result may not be the top priority for Vietnam. Instead, the match could serve as an opportunity for coach Kim Sang Sik to test new personnel and explore additional tactical options.

The upcoming squad list is therefore expected to include several experimental choices. Some younger players or those who have had limited opportunities with the national team may receive playing time, helping reduce the workload on experienced veterans who have been heavily involved with both their clubs and the national side.

Strategic planning

However, experimentation does not mean coach Kim Sang Sik will abandon careful planning.

Vietnam still faces important objectives ahead, the closest being the ASEAN Cup scheduled from July 24 to August 26.

Entering the tournament as the defending champions, Vietnam will face significant pressure to retain the title. Looking at the preparation schedule, it is clear that Kim Sang Sik does not have much time left to integrate new players with the existing core ahead of the ASEAN Cup.

According to the plan, after the training camp in March, the Vietnam team will not gather during the FIFA Days window in June.

This means the period between now and the ASEAN Cup is essentially limited to the two upcoming matches. That is precisely why coach Kim Sang Sik must carefully calculate every personnel option.

The two matches scheduled for March, against Bangladesh and Malaysia, therefore serve not only as immediate tasks but also as crucial tests for both tactical approach and squad structure.

Kim Sang Sik and his coaching staff will need to evaluate how well the team’s playing system functions, the coordination between different lines and how quickly new players can adapt.

If the experiments prove successful, Vietnam could enter the ASEAN Cup with a clearer core lineup and more flexible tactical options.

Such preparation would also help the team maintain its competitive edge in Southeast Asia, where the level of football competition is becoming increasingly intense.

There are many reasons to believe that this upcoming Vietnam squad list will reflect a combination of experimentation and strategic planning for the road ahead.

And although the results of the upcoming matches may not be the only focus, the pressure on coach Kim Sang Sik remains significant as he attempts to achieve multiple objectives at the same time.

Duy Nguyen