Vietnam head into the tournament on an 18-match unbeaten run, including 16 wins. Their last defeat was a 2-1 friendly loss to Thailand on Sept. 10, 2024.
The team went on to beat Thailand over two legs in the 2024 ASEAN Cup final to lift the title for the third time.
Vietnam celebrate the 2024 ASEAN Cup championship after beating Thailand in the final in Rajamangala, Thailand, Jan. 6, 2025. Photo by Read/Duc Dong |
Under South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik, Vietnam have enjoyed a successful run in regional football, winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup, the 2025 ASEAN U-23 Championship and the men’s football gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.
The U23 team also beat Saudi Arabia to eliminate the hosts from the group stage of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in January before defeating South Korea to claim the bronze medal. Two months later, Vietnam secured qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Vietnam are among the best-prepared teams at this year’s ASEAN Cup, holding a training camp of around five weeks and playing three warm-up matches against K League clubs in South Korea.
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Naturalized player Do Hoang Hen (10) celebrates a goal in Vietnam’s 4-0 victory in a friendly match with Myanmar in Thai Nguyen, July 18, 2026. Photo by Read/Hieu Luong |
Among the other participating teams, only Cambodia and Singapore also held overseas training camps, both in Japan.
Vietnam’s title defense has also been boosted by the absence of several key players from regional rivals Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Captain Nguyen Quang Hai said the team is fully prepared for the tournament.
“We have prepared carefully in every aspect. We are in good form and have clear strategies. The whole team is 100% ready,” he said.
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Timor Leste players train in Chonburi, Thailand before their ASEAN Cup clash with Vietnam, July 23, 2026. Photo by Read/Duc Dong |
Vietnam have won each of their last five ASEAN Cup opening matches since 2016, scoring 17 goals and conceding only twice.
They will be favored to extend that record against Timor Leste, who are ranked 201st in the FIFA rankings, 102 places below Vietnam.
Timor Leste have never played Vietnam. They have appeared in the Southeast Asian championship four times—in 2004, 2018, 2020 and 2024—and were eliminated in the group stage on each occasion.
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