On the afternoon of August 26, Cong Vinh appeared at My Dinh National Stadium, drawing considerable attention from the media and fans. Most notably, the former Vietnam international arrived with the ASEAN Cup 2026 trophy.

Cong Vinh was chosen by the organizers to carry the trophy onto the pitch before Vietnam face Thailand in the final at 8 p.m.

His presence adds another emotional layer to the occasion and provides inspiration for Dinh Bac and his teammates. For Cong Vinh himself, the return to My Dinh is a proud and deeply personal one. It was here that he scored the unforgettable header in the 2008 AFF Cup final that secured Vietnam’s historic first Southeast Asian championship.

Cong Vinh remains the all-time leading scorer for Vietnam’s national team, with 51 goals in 83 appearances.