Vietnam enters FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026: A journey with only two training sessions

The training ground falls silent; passes haven't yet found their rhythm before they must stop. Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad has only two official training sessions before departing for Indonesia to compete in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. An unprecedentedly hasty preparation raises questions about the operational capacity of a championship machine that just defended its title.

The context of this rush stems from a congested calendar. The coaching staff is expected to announce the squad after round 2 of the 2026/27 LPBank V-League, meaning players can only assemble on September 21. Two days later, the whole team travels to Indonesia, and on September 26 they face the Philippines in the opener. Thus, Kim Sang Sik has only 48 hours on the training pitch to implement tactics, integrate the squad, and restore rhythm. Time pressure is real, especially since Vietnam are the defending champions aiming to top Group B and reach the final.

Typically, a team needs at least a week to perfect patterns and ensure fitness. But for Vietnam, squad continuity is the anchor. The called-up players are largely the same core that won the recent title. This is a tactical gamble: trusting collective tactical memory and ingrained movements rather than rebuilding from scratch. However, the painful blow is the absence of midfielder Van Vi due to injury, while Nguyen Hoang Duc's return remains uncertain. The midfield, the axis controlling the game's tempo, faces the biggest challenge. If Hoang Duc is not available, Vietnam may have to simplify their approach, prioritizing safety over central control.

The blind spot of tactics is not in the formation, but in fitness. In two sessions, it is impossible to install a high-pressing system or demand constant 90-minute movement without a foundation. Coach Kim must choose a safe solution: a disciplined, low-risk style reliant on defensive solidity and set pieces. This means the match against the Philippines is not just three points; it is the first fitness test. If physical condition is insufficient, the clash with Thailand three days later will be a nightmare. Thailand, the arch-rivals, will arrive with a corrective mindset after losing the previous final. It is a battle not only for group leadership but also for psychological supremacy.

But there is something collective memory often overlooks: a championship does not always reflect true strength. Vietnam's recent success may have stemmed from unsustainable factors: a lucky bounce, a goalkeeper's peak performance, or a timely penalty. Retaining the same title-winning core risks delaying regeneration and masking underlying weaknesses. In football, nothing is more dangerous than believing the past automatically protects the future. Some goals are not in the tactics; they are in the air. And the air in this tournament may be very different.

Another notable detail is the presence of Pakistan in Group B. Pakistan belongs to the South Asian football ecosystem, not ASEAN. Their inclusion in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 (if that is the official name) suggests an expanded or invitational format. Professionally, Pakistan is not on par with Vietnam or Thailand. The real issue is the travel distance and fixture density: two tough matches within three days.

We don't watch football with our eyes; we watch with memory. But the memory of a championship will not be enough to carry Vietnam past the group stage if fitness and preparation fall short. Coach Kim's luggage now holds only two training sessions, an almost unchanged squad, and a very high target. Can continuity compensate for the lack of time? Or will the lesson about thorough preparation be written in blood?

Let's wait and see. The rain in Kazan once soaked history, but the rain in Indonesia may only be the sweat of men racing against time.