Kim said a number of players had been injured or were short of fitness since the domestic season began. Adou Minh and Minh Hoang are among the replacements available, while established members of the squad will have to shoulder more responsibility.

“Changes are inevitable, but I believe the players can meet a difficult challenge and prove it on the pitch,” he said.

The coach has yet to decide whether captain Nguyen Hoang Duc, who has been dealing with an injury, will play. He said he would first assess the condition of the older players before choosing his starting lineup.

Hoang Duc will captain Vietnam for the tournament, with Nguyen Xuan Son and Nguyen Dinh Bac named vice-captains. It is the first time Dinh Bac, a forward born in 2004, has held a leadership role with the senior national team.

Kim said the players’ ability to communicate and support one another mattered to the squad’s cohesion. The vice-captaincy, he added, would bring Dinh Bac greater responsibility.

The coach wants Vietnam to play more attacking football while retaining its defensive strength.

“I want people watching on television to be able to see all 11 of our players in one frame,” he said, describing the compact, coordinated approach he expects in both attack and defense.

Philippines promises to take the game to Vietnam

Philippines coach Carles Cuadrat said Vietnam was the stronger side but insisted his team would seek more than a goalless draw.

“We know Vietnam is favored, but we aren’t afraid,” Cuadrat said. “We won’t just defend and aim for 0-0. We’re ready to compete on equal terms.”

Cuadrat described Vietnam as one of the tournament favorites, citing its FIFA ranking and recent ASEAN Cup results. He said his staff had studied the team on video and noted the quality of its squad, including its naturalized players. Vietnam sits 40 places above the Philippines in the FIFA rankings, according to the coach.

He also pointed to an advantage enjoyed by national teams whose players are largely based in domestic leagues: they can more easily coordinate schedules and spend time together in training camps. At the previous ASEAN Cup, he said, Vietnam was able to field its strongest team even though the tournament fell outside a FIFA international window, while the Philippines used an under-23 squad.

“I don’t see that as an excuse,” Cuadrat said.

He expressed confidence in his players, who compete in leagues across Asia, the United States and Europe. Although preparation time has been limited, he said the squad’s experience and ability to adapt would help it carry out a suitable game plan.

“The Philippines is excited and determined to get the best possible results against the teams in our group,” he said.

Dinh Bac and Ngo Dang Khoa draw FIFA attention

Dinh Bac enters the tournament after winning the V-League with Hanoi Police FC and helping Vietnam win the ASEAN Cup 2026. He was named that tournament’s best player and shared its top scorer award with Xuan Son after both scored five goals.

FIFA included the 22-year-old among six players to watch at the FIFA ASEAN Cup, describing him as one of Vietnam’s leading hopes. The other players on its list were Thailand’s Teerasak Poeiphimai, Singapore’s Shah Shahiran, Bangladesh’s Hamza Choudhury, Indonesia goalkeeper Emil Audero and Malaysia’s Bergson da Silva.

FIFA also named Vietnam’s Ngo Dang Khoa, known as Khoa Ngo, among five young players to watch. Born and raised in Western Australia in a Vietnamese family, the 20-year-old moved to Vietnam to play for a V-League club earlier this year and obtained Vietnamese citizenship in May.

Khoa had been called up for the ASEAN Cup 2026 after winning the National Cup with Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, but missed that tournament with a meniscus injury. He was initially left out of Vietnam’s FIFA ASEAN Cup squad before Thanh Chung’s injury opened a place for him. FIFA highlighted his pace and dribbling ability on the wing.

Vietnam faces the Philippines at 7:30 p.m. on September 26 and Thailand on September 29, with both group matches scheduled for Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia. Kim’s team then travels to Jakarta to face Pakistan on October 2.

Dai Nam - Ngoc Huy