Xuân Son and the Vietnam national team aim to conquer the ASEAN Cup.

After close to a month of training with coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam's national team steps into their final friendly match against Myanmar at Thai Nguyen stadium on the evening of July 18, with the objective of polishing the last details ahead of the ASEAN Championship 2026.

Xuân Son is anticipated to keep displaying his scoring touch, building momentum to spearhead the front line as they strive to retain their Southeast Asian title.

The friendly match against Myanmar is not only the final rehearsal ofthe Vietnamese national teambefore the ASEAN Championship 2026 but also an opportunity for the striker born in 1997 to extend his scoring touch that has long been linked to the Vietnam national team shirt.

Two years ago, immediately after finishing his naturalization and anticipating his debut for Vietnam, Xuân Son made an impressive entrance by bagging a brace againstMyanmar.

That milestone marked the beginning of an emotional journey for the 29-year-old forward in the red jersey, while also establishing him as a key striker for the national team.

Despite his performance in the shirt ofNam Dinhin the 2025/26 V-League has not met expectations, Xuân Son still demonstrates his remarkable scoring instinct in cup tournaments and for the national team. The recent training trip to South Korea is a clear testament.

Son found the net in both friendlies against Gangwon FC and Yongin FC, helping Vietnam secure 2-1 wins over the two Korean sides. This is an encouraging sign of his form peaking at the right time as the ASEAN Championship approaches.

With 18 goals in 22 appearances for club and country this season, Xuân Son continues to boast an impressive scoring record. In particular, as the reigning top scorer in both regional club tournaments and international matches, the Nam Dinh forward has added motivation to prove his worth in the competition he has already dominated.

Myanmar might become a favored opponent forXuân Sonto further add to his goal tally. What's even more exciting is that this year, Xuân Son won't have to carry the entire offensive burden alone.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has a wealth of quality attacking options. Hoàng Hên and Tài Lộc are hungry to net their first international goals, Đình Bắc is always a threat to create breakthroughs, and Việt Cường, Gia Hưng, Hai Long, and Ngọc Mỹ are also eager to make an impact.

This variety will make Vietnam's frontline less predictable, while also opening up more space for Xuân Son to exploit his positioning and finishing skills.

Furthermore, behind the top striker are creative playmakers like Quang Hải and Hoàng Đức. With their ability to dictate the rhythm, provide assists, and make key passes, Xuân Son will have more opportunities to get close to the opponent's goal.

This is exactly what coach Kim Sang Sik aims to achieve by developing a balanced style that combines collective power with individual flair. In his pre-match comments, the Korean tactician stated that the team is not reliant on any single player.

However, a Xuân Son in top form will undoubtedly enhance the power of the reigning champions. Myanmar is surely no longer a pushover, with a new coach and a determination to cause an upset.

Nevertheless, if Xuân Son keeps up his scoring form from South Korea and repeats his past heroics against this opponent, the Thai Nguyen stadium could be in for a thrilling warm-up match.