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Ticket touts gather outside the Vietnam Football Federation headquarters ahead of the ASEAN Cup final. Photo: S.N

Ticket fever has swept Hanoi ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final second leg between Vietnam and Thailand, with unofficial sellers asking as much as VND12 million, or about $455, for a pair of prime seats.

Organizers released tickets online on August 20 in four price categories: VND1.5 million, VND1.2 million, VND800,000 and VND500,000 per ticket, equivalent to roughly $57, $46, $30 and $19.

The Vietnam Football Federation announced that the allocation had sold out within hours.

Demand for the final has been markedly stronger than for the semifinal, with resale prices climbing as Wednesday night’s decisive match approaches.

On the afternoon of August 25, numerous ticket touts gathered outside the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation and around My Dinh National Stadium.

Some carried stacks of tickets while approaching passers-by, while others were prepared to buy tickets from supporters for VND200,000-300,000 ($8-11) above face value.

A pair of sought-after seats in Stand A, Gate 2, Level 2 at My Dinh was being offered for VND12 million, approximately $455. Invitations, which generally provide access to desirable seating areas, were also being offered for more than VND10 million ($380).

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Tickets for the Vietnam-Thailand final have become highly sought after ahead of the match at My Dinh National Stadium.

The inflation has spread across every ticket category.

A pair of the cheapest tickets, originally costing VND1 million ($38), was being offered for VND3-4 million ($114-152). Other categories were similarly advertised at three to four times their original prices.

Some sellers warned potential buyers that prices could rise further as supply dwindled and demand continued to grow.

Fans can find less extreme prices through football forums and ticket-exchange groups, where resale prices are typically VND500,000 to VND1 million ($19-38) above face value per ticket.

Those transactions, however, come with another danger: counterfeit tickets and other forms of fraud.

Several factors are driving demand.

Vietnam returned from Bangkok with a 2-0 advantage over Thailand, leaving Kim Sang Sik’s team within touching distance of successfully defending their ASEAN Cup crown.

Many supporters therefore want to be inside My Dinh to witness what they hope will be another victory over Vietnam’s biggest regional rival, followed by the sight of the national team lifting the trophy on home soil.

Cool weather and the expectation of no rain have added to the appeal.

My Dinh National Stadium has a capacity of around 40,000, and the stands are expected to be close to full for the second leg.

For Vietnam’s players, that packed stadium could provide another significant advantage as they attempt to finish the job against Thailand and celebrate the ASEAN Cup title in front of their home supporters.

The match kicks off at 8pm on August 26.

Dai Nam