ASEAN Cup 2026: Indonesian Media Worried About Vietnam's 'Fab Four'

The newspaper Bola has paid close attention to the list of 25 players registered by Vietnam for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. According to the paper's assessment, the reigning champions' squad has been significantly upgraded thanks to the inclusion of naturalized players alongside experienced key figures.

Bola says Indonesia needs to be especially cautious of four naturalized players: goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik, striker Nguyen Xuan Son, attacking midfielder Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc. Among them, the trio of Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Tai Loc are considered crucial offensive elements for Vietnam in this year's tournament.

The Indonesian newspaper asserts that this trio could pose a major threat to any defense in the 2026 ASEAN Cup due to their coordination and ability to create breakthroughs.

Notably, Bola also suggests that Coach Kim Sang Sik has made a significant shift in how he operates the attack, as familiar forwards like Nguyen Tien Linh and Pham Tuan Hai no longer hold the dominant roles they once did.

The performance in the recent 4-0 friendly victory over Myanmar is seen as clear evidence. Xuan Son opened the scoring, while Do Hoang Hen also netted his first goal for the national team. According to Bola, the chemistry between the trio of Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Tai Loc is expected to become a potent weapon for Vietnam in the regional competition.

Among Vietnamese players, Nguyen Xuan Son continues to receive the highest praise from Indonesian media. Bola emphasizes that the Brazilian-born striker has scored 11 goals in 9 appearances for Vietnam and quickly became one of the key pillars under Coach Kim Sang Sik. The paper also highlights Xuan Son's outstanding performance at the 2024 ASEAN Cup, where he scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists in 5 matches, playing a major role in Vietnam's championship victory.

Alongside the naturalized players, Bola evaluates that Vietnam still possesses many experienced figures such as Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc, creating a deep and balanced squad that blends experience with youth.

According to the schedule, Vietnam will open their 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign against Timor-Leste on July 24. After that, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team will face Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia in Group A. The match between Vietnam and Indonesia is described by the "archipelago nation" media as decisive in the race for the top spot in the group, and could significantly influence the overall competition for the 2026 ASEAN Cup title.