Korean newspaper: 'Coach Kim Sang Sik and the Vietnam national team aim for a second consecutive Southeast Asian championship'

"Under Coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam targets the unprecedented achievement of back-to-back championships, marking the start of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup," reads the opening of an article on isplus.com dated July 24.

Under the guidance of Coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnam national team aims to become the first team in history to successfully defend their title at the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, the most prestigious football tournament in Southeast Asia.

The 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup officially runs from July 24 to August 26 across Southeast Asia. Held every two years, this tournament is dubbed the "World Cup of Southeast Asia," the most prestigious arena to determine the region's strongest team. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the tournament, and the title sponsor has also switched from Mitsubishi to Hyundai, ushering in a new era.

The biggest attention is on defending champions Vietnam. Under Coach Kim Sang Sik, the team aims to successfully defend the title they won last year, thereby becoming the first team in tournament history to win two consecutive editions, while also claiming their fourth title.

Vietnam had a golden period under coach Park Hang Seo from 2017 to 2023, before declining under coach Philippe Troussier. After taking over the team last year, Coach Kim Sang Sik immediately helped Vietnam win the ASEAN Cup, turning the situation around. Subsequently, he also led Vietnam to victories in the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship and the 2025 SEA Games, affirming his coaching ability.

To prepare for this tournament, Vietnam held a training camp in South Korea to improve team cohesion. They beat Siheung FC (K3 League) 6-0, then defeated Yongin FC (K League 2) and Gangwon FC (K League 1) both 2-1, finishing the camp with three wins. In their final friendly before the tournament, Vietnam beat Myanmar 4-0, building a positive psychological momentum.

On the eve of the tournament, Coach Kim Sang Sik shared: "The most important thing is to get past the group stage. Instead of thinking about previous results, we will focus on each match to achieve the desired outcome."

He also emphasized: "We do not rely on any individual. The most important thing is team spirit."

In Group A, Vietnam will compete against Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Timor Leste. Vietnam starts with a match against Timor Leste (FIFA rank 201) on July 24, followed by Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, which along with the final will be played over two legs (home and away).

The biggest rival considered to compete for the title with Vietnam is Thailand, the most successful team in tournament history with seven titles. Thailand has successfully defended the title three times, but in the most recent edition, they lost to Vietnam 3-5 on aggregate over two legs in the final, finishing as runners-up.

Can Coach Kim Sang Sik write a new chapter in Vietnamese football history by winning the first back-to-back ASEAN Cup titles? This is the center of attention for Southeast Asian football fans.