A very strong squad

Although Kim Sang Sik is not expected to announce Vietnam’s training squad for ASEAN Cup 2026 until early June, it is already clear that the South Korean coach is working with a remarkably complete team.

From defense and midfield to attack, Kim has an abundance of quality options at every position. Looking across the pitch, the coach faces the enviable but difficult task of choosing among numerous standout players.

Vietnam’s national team has become stronger thanks to the balance and quality throughout the squad.

Even the attacking line - long considered a weakness under several previous head coaches - now appears fully reinforced. Kim currently has at least half a dozen reliable attacking options including Xuan Son, Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen, Tuan Hai and most recently Tai Loc. Such depth is enough to make any team in the region cautious. Meanwhile, established names like Tien Linh and Viet Cuong remain available and ready to seize another opportunity if called upon.

With a squad combining youth, maturity and experience, Vietnam under Kim Sang Sik are widely viewed as the leading contenders for the ASEAN Cup 2026 title.

Pressure for Kim Sang Sik

Having a squad with strong depth and little difference between starters and substitutes is every coach’s dream. However, for Kim Sang Sik, such abundance can also create considerable pressure.

Deciding who starts and who sits on the bench is a difficult and risky challenge. Managing a dressing room filled with talented players has never been easy for any coach.

That same depth is also increasing the pressure on coach Kim Sang Sik.

Beyond simply winning matches, fans and football analysts now expect Vietnam to evolve further, improve technically and move closer to a more complete style of football.

Disjointed and uninspiring performances against weaker opponents such as Nepal or Laos in previous years are no longer acceptable. Kim Sang Sik’s side is expected to dominate games, play fluid football and deliver convincing results.

In other words, Vietnam are no longer judged only by trophies. The team is now expected to display overwhelming strength and present the most polished version of itself in the years ahead.

Still, pressure can also be viewed as a positive sign. Only a team with enough quality, depth and ambition can force its coach into the kind of difficult but welcome headaches Kim Sang Sik is experiencing now.

Duy Nguyen