The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup ended with two lively finals, but uneven crowds and weak broadcast demand elsewhere, while plans for an AFC Nations League raise questions over whether the new Southeast Asian tournament has a future.

Vietnam ended the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 with consecutive defeats to Thailand and Malaysia, but players, coach Kim Sang Sik and observers believe the disappointing fourth-place finish exposed problems that can be addressed ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup.

Vietnam face a delicate balancing act against a transformed Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place playoff, seeking victory and FIFA ranking points while trying to protect an injury-hit squad from further damage.

Vietnam won just three gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games, falling short of its target as weak results in Olympic sports highlighted a growing performance gap with Southeast Asian rivals.

Thailand finished as Southeast Asia’s top-performing nation at the 2026 Asian Games, while Vietnam ranked fifth in the region with three gold, three silver and 19 bronze medals.

Vietnam face Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place playoff with more than a medal at stake, as Kim Sang Sik's side seek to protect their world top-100 ranking while managing injuries after a taxing 4-2 win over Pakistan.

It was Vietnam's second bronze medal in esports at the Games, following the first in the Naraka: Bladepoint event.

Vietnam came from behind to defeat Pakistan 4-2 in their final Group B match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia, on October 2, securing the second place in the group and a berth in the third-place playoff.

Luu Diem Quynh secured a bronze medal for Vietnam in the women's 75kg boxing event at the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD 2026) after losing 0-5 to China's Bao Ziyi in the semifinals on September 30.

Vietnam’s 27-game unbeaten run came to an end as Thailand claimed a 2-0 victory in Indonesia, securing a place in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final and knocking Kim Sang Sik’s side out of the title race. 

Vietnam striker Nguyen Xuan Son will miss four to six weeks with a hamstring injury, leaving 19-year-old Williams Minh Hoang in contention for a bigger role after an impressive FIFA ASEAN Cup debut.

Vietnam produced a resilient defensive display against China but saw their ASIAD 2026 campaign end with a 1-0 extra-time defeat in the quarterfinals.

Vietnam’s U17 women’s basketball team have won bronze at the 2026 Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) U17 3x3 Championship after beating Singapore 20–9 in the third-place match in Batam, Indonesia.

Bui Ngoc Nhi, Hoang Thi Thu Uyen and Nguyen Ngoc Tram burst into tears after winning the women’s team kata title, delivering Vietnam’s first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.

Vietnam reached the Asian Games men’s football quarterfinals despite a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan, benefiting from the Philippines’ 2-1 victory over Kuwait in the other Group C match.

Vietnam reached the Asian Games women’s football quarterfinals after a 0-0 draw with Thailand in their final Group E match, securing the last available place in the knockout stage as one of the two best third-placed teams.

Vietnam U23 need only a draw against Uzbekistan to reach the Asian Games quarterfinals, but their final group match could prove an important test of the team’s ambitions to go much further.

Vietnam's women's volleyball team lost 3-0 to Indonesia in the Asian Games 5th-8th place playoff on Sept. 21, sending them into the match for seventh place.

Vietnam has clinched its first medal at the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD 2026) as the duo Nguyen Hoang Minh Tan and Trinh Gia Nghi obtained a bronze in the teqball mixed doubles event on the Games' first official day of competition.

Vietnam's flag was raised in Nagoya, Japan, on September 18, marking the delegation's official presence at the 20th Asian Games ahead of two weeks of competition.