Vietnam are expected to face a packed schedule in 2026, competing in both regional and continental tournaments. Their immediate focus will be a rematch with the Malaysia national football team in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, scheduled for late March 2026.

With the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) having temporarily suspended FIFA’s ban on a group of seven naturalized players, Malaysia could recall those players for the March fixture. The team is also reported to be moving forward with the naturalization of additional players ahead of the match against Vietnam.

This will present a major challenge for Kim Sang Sik’s side, but also a good opportunity for Vietnam to show their level. The current national team differs significantly from the one that previously lost in Malaysia. Kim Sang Sik has welcomed back striker Nguyen Xuan Son, along with overseas Vietnamese and naturalized players such as Quang Vinh, Phi Long and Hoang Hen.

Playing at home, Vietnam will first aim to overcome Malaysia before monitoring subsequent developments from CAS and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Another important objective for Vietnam in 2026 is defending the ASEAN Cup title. The tournament will be held under a revised schedule, adding to the challenge facing the defending champions.

Previously, the ASEAN Cup was typically staged at the end of the year, outside the FIFA international window. As a result, some teams were unable to call up their strongest squads because clubs were unwilling to release players.

With the tournament now scheduled for the summer, shortly after the World Cup, teams such as the Thailand national football team, the Indonesia national football team and the Malaysia national football team are expected to have greater access to their best players.

This is likely to increase competition across the tournament and make Vietnam’s title defense more demanding.

Alongside the challenges, there are also opportunities, as Vietnam can show their competitiveness after a strong 2025 from the Vietnam U23 national team.

Vietnam U23 welcomed home by fans after Asian Cup campaign

VOV.VN - Head coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnamese team returned home to a warm welcome from thousands of fans on the evening of January 24 following their impressive performance at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.