Following his journey with U23 Vietnam at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, coach Kim Sang Sik now faces a different kind of high-stakes challenge - his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). And this time, fans may be holding their breath even more than during the matches.

A well-earned reward

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With a series of milestones under his belt, coach Kim Sang Sik is widely expected to be offered a new contract by the VFF.

Under the current agreement, Kim Sang Sik's contract with Vietnamese football will expire on March 31, 2026. Looking back on his tenure so far, it’s hard to dispute that this has been one of the most successful periods for Vietnam under a foreign head coach.

The list of achievements speaks volumes: a historic ASEAN Cup title, a regional U23 Southeast Asia championship, SEA Games gold, and most recently, a third-place finish at the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Each milestone underlines the clear imprint Kim has made.

Even more importantly, his impact has gone beyond just silverware. Vietnam’s teams under his guidance have become more disciplined, better organized, and guided by a strategic vision that looks to the future as much as the present.

Within this context, an offer from VFF to extend Kim Sang Sik’s stay seems all but certain. It’s a reward for his accomplishments, and a gesture in line with the overwhelming support from fans for his continued leadership.

In fact, the VFF is reportedly preparing to trigger an automatic extension clause that would keep Kim in charge through the end of the 2027 Asian Cup. Still, that move requires his consent. And above all, Vietnamese fans are hoping for a longer-term deal that signals a deep, sustained commitment to progress.

An open path to long-term commitment

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Kim Sang Sik’s current contract with the Vietnam national team runs through the 2027 Asian Cup.

On a personal level, Kim Sang Sik has every reason to stay. He’s earned respect from both players and supporters, and he holds a strong position within Vietnamese football. Continuing on this path would likely be far more promising than starting anew elsewhere.

But on a professional level, decisions like this rarely rest on emotion alone. Given his record, both Kim and his management team have solid grounds to negotiate updated terms - better financial incentives and more defined authority in football matters. This is standard practice in professional football, where success often recalibrates a coach’s market value.

What makes this moment more promising is Kim’s own openness to staying. He has publicly expressed his happiness working in Vietnam, noting that his time here has added a valuable new chapter to his professional résumé.

That openness forms a strong bridge for discussions with the VFF - particularly around a contract that goes beyond the current extension clause tied to the 2027 Asian Cup. Of course, both parties must also weigh long-term considerations: budget limits, financial balance, and the fact that VFF has to manage development plans for multiple national teams in parallel.

At present, Kim Sang Sik clearly holds the upper hand. His results speak louder than any pitch. And supporters are hoping the coach - who has delivered so much - will soon sit down with VFF to map out a future together, just as he once hinted they would “resolve everything smoothly.”

With that same spirit seen on the pitch, perhaps both sides will find common ground. If they do, the win won’t belong just to Kim Sang Sik or to the VFF - but to Vietnamese football as a whole, as it moves forward with clarity and confidence.

Duy Nguyen