Vietnam gets used to Thai pitch, ready for ASEAN Cup 2026 opener
VOV.VN - The Vietnam national team held a training session at Chonburi Stadium in Thailand on the afternoon of July 23 to get accustomed to the pitch ahead of their opening match against Timor-Leste in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026, set to take place at 20:30 on July 24.
This opening match is eagerly awaited as both teams carry different goals and ambitions, serving as an important preparation step before coach Kim Sang Sik and his players begin their journey to defend the championship title.
Despite light rain at Chonburi Stadium, the training session was unaffected as players maintained high intensity and enthusiasm.
Naturalized striker Nguyen Tai Loc and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam were absent from the pitch, remaining at the hotel for recovery exercises and almost certainly missing the opener. Their absence forced the coaching staff to finalize the 23-player matchday squad against Timor-Leste early, though this poses no major concern given the team's depth.
Amid squad losses, head coach Kim Sang Sik maintained an optimistic spirit throughout the session, affirming in pre-match remarks that the entire squad had prepared thoroughly.
"We are delighted to participate in the tournament. The Vietnam national team is gearing up to deliver our best performance for both the opener and all subsequent matches. The entire team will fight confidently to secure a victory," Coach Kim Sang Sik said.
Meanwhile, Timor-Leste's head coach revealed his aspirations to adopt a Spanish-style playstyle ahead of their clash with Vietnam at the ASEAN Cup 2026.
During the pre-match press conference, head coach Jose Pedro affirmed that Timor-Leste does not enter the tournament merely to make up the numbers, stressing that the team targets a positive start even when taking on the defending champions in their opening fixture.
Assessing Vietnam's strength with high regard, Coach Jose Pedro singled out the threat posed by naturalized players and the tactical cohesion of the Vietnamese side.
Notwithstanding the wide gap in skill level, Timor-Leste still demonstrates clear ambition ahead of the tournament. The upcoming match against Vietnam thus promises to test the character and development trajectory of the team.
Vietnam depart for Thailand ahead of 2026 ASEAN Cup opener
VOV.VN - Defending champions Vietnam departed for Thailand on July 20 to begin the final stage of preparations for their opening match at the 2026 ASEAN Championship, also known as ASEAN Cup, against Timor-Leste.
