HAGL unexpectedly supports a rival of the Vietnam national team.

The Lao national team reached Pleiku on the evening of July 1, starting a two-week training session at HAGL's Ham Rong Center, with the goal of winning the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

The Lao team arrived in Pleiku, Gia Lai province. On the evening of July 1, they officially began a two-week training camp at HAGL's Ham Rong Center. This is part of the preparation plan for the 2026 ASEAN Cup of the team from the Land of a Million Elephants, and also demonstrates the close cooperation between HAGL and Lao football in recent years.

According to the plan, coach Vladica Grujic and his players will train continuously at HAGL's headquarters before taking part in four friendly matches against HAGL and Thanh Nien TP.HCM Club. The matches are scheduled for July 5, 7, 11, and 14 at Pleiku Stadium and Ham Rong Center, allowing the coaching staff to assess the squad, test formations, and refine tactics ahead of the region's biggest tournament.

The delegation The Lao national team, consisting of 37 members, traveled by road from the capital Vientiane.Transiting through Champasak province before arriving in Pleiku. This training camp was proposed by the Lao Football Federation and received full support from HAGL. Not only did they open the modern facilities at Ham Rong, but the Mountain City club also provided favorable conditions for fields, accommodation, and training environment to ensure the guests have the best preparation.

Notably, HAGL Group Chairman Đoàn Nguyên Đức (known as bầu Đức) continues to accompany Lao football by deciding to sponsor all costs for the training camp in Pleiku. This is not the first time bầu Đức has supported the neighboring country's football. Previously, he signed a strategic cooperation with Champasak football, repositioned Champasak HAGL Avenir FC, and committed to a three-year investment to elevate the club.

Leading the Lao national team in the 2026 ASEAN Cup is coach Vladica Grujic, a tactician holding a UEFA Pro license with many years of experience working in Asia. The manager of Serbian and Austrian descent previously served as an assistant for the Lao team in 2011, and has experience at various clubs such as Tokyo FC, Cerezo Osaka, and Buriram United. With his deep understanding of Southeast Asian football, he is expected to help improve Laos' competitiveness in this year's tournament.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup will take place from July 24 to August 26, featuring the top 10 regional teams. Although Laos is not in the same group as Vietnam, the choice of Pleiku as a training venue has attracted much attention because it is one of Vietnam's leading training facilities. The training period at Ham Rong is expected to help Laos make thorough preparations before embarking on their journey to conquer the 2026 ASEAN Cup.