Early Asian Cup ticket secured, Vietnam national team still 'comes after' two Southeast Asian teams

After Malaysia was penalized with a 0-3 loss by AFC, Vietnam national team officially secured a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, becoming the third Southeast Asian representative in this prestigious continental competition.

Vietnam national team officially qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals following major developments in Group F of the qualifiers. According to AFC's decision, Malaysia was penalized with a 0-3 loss in two matches due to using ineligible players. This completely changed the situation, paving the way for coach Kim Sang Sik and his team to break through.

Specifically, Malaysia was deducted 6 points, dropping from 15 to 9 points, and their goal difference significantly decreased. Conversely, Vietnam national team was awarded the win, raising their total points to 15 and creating a 6-point gap with only one qualifying round remaining. With this advantage, Vietnam is certain to top Group F and has officially secured a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals. — thus becoming the third Southeast Asian representative in the tournament.

Before Vietnam secured its ticket, the Southeast Asian region already had two representatives: Indonesia and Singapore. Among them, Indonesia advanced as part of the 18 teams that passed the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, while Singapore qualified by topping their group in the final Asian Cup qualifying round. This makes Vietnam's participation complete the "triple" of regional representatives.

As of now, 21 teams have secured tickets to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, including host Saudi Arabia and strong teams like Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, and Qatar. The remaining three spots will be determined after the final qualifying round in late March, with notable competitions such as Philippines vs Tajikistan and Thailand vs Turkmenistan.

The 2027 Asian Cup Finals are scheduled from January 7 to February 5, 2027, in three major cities of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. A total of 24 teams will compete in modern stadium facilities, including major venues like King Fahd Sports City and King Abdullah Sports City.

Securing the ticket early gives Vietnam national team a significant advantage in preparation, although within Southeast Asia, coach Kim Sang Sik's team is the third to qualify. However, with stable performance and top position in the group, Vietnam is expected to make a notable impression in the upcoming continental competition.