While acknowledging the strong opponents in Group E, the South Korean coach believes Vietnam can advance deep into the tournament with the right preparation and mentality.
The draw, held in Saudi Arabia on May 9, placed Vietnam in Group E alongside top-seeded South Korea and second-seeded United Arab Emirates. The remaining team of the group will be determined after Lebanon face Yemen in the final qualifying match on June 4.
“I believe Vietnam can achieve good results against three strong opponents if we prepare well,” Kim said after attending the draw. “It won’t be easy, especially against South Korea, but I believe the team can go far if our squad, mentality and spirit are well prepared.”
Coach Kim Sang-sik during an interview at the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) headquarters in Hanoi on April 14, 2026. Photo by Read/Giang Huy |
South Korea currently sits 25th in the FIFA ranking, 74 places above Vietnam. Head-to-head records heavily favor the East Asian giant, who boasts six wins to Vietnam’s one. Their most recent encounter ended in a heavy 0-6 defeat for Vietnam under former coach Philippe Troussier. Vietnam’s sole victory against South Korea came during the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers in 2003.
The matchup holds special significance for Kim and his goalkeeping coach, Lee Woon-jae, as they prepare to face their native country on Asia’s biggest stage.
“This is the biggest challenge of my coaching career, but I would never shy away from it,” he added.
The UAE, ranked 68th, are another formidable opponent. They finished third in the 2015 and 2019 Asian Cup editions before reaching the round of 16 in 2023. In the past, Vietnam have secured two wins and one draw against the UAE, alongside five defeats.
Despite the challenging draw, Kim remains optimistic.
“I will carry the confidence from our unbeaten run in the qualifiers and our 17-match unbeaten streak into the tournament. I will prove in Saudi Arabia that Vietnam are a new powerhouse in Asia,” Kim said.
“Being in the same group as South Korea and the UAE is certainly not an easy challenge, but Vietnam always become stronger when faced with difficulties. We know how strong we are when we play as a team, instead of focusing on individuals.”
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Forward Nguyen Dinh Bac (number 15) shields defenders Lee Ki-je (number 2) and Kim Min-jae during Vietnam’s 0-6 friendly loss to South Korea at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Oct. 17, 2023. Photo by Read/Nghia Hung |
UAE head coach Cosmin Olaroiu also weighed in on the group’s high stakes.
“South Korea have a rich tradition, while Vietnam always know how to surprise,” he said. “There are no easy or difficult groups because the Asian Cup brings together the strongest teams in Asia. You have to know how to overcome yourself to go further in this highly competitive tournament. This is a challenge that demands a lot of sacrifice and effort. The team must know how to control their emotions and mental strength to achieve their dream, starting now.”
The Romanian manager took charge of the UAE in April 2025. He managed to take the team in the final qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, but failed to obtain a slot in the play-offs. Under Olaroiu, the UAE have significantly bolstered their squad by adding naturalized Brazilian players, a policy heavily implemented by their federation since 2019.
Vietnam will kick off their 2027 Asian Cup campaign against the UAE on Jan. 10. They will face South Korea five days later before concluding the group stage on Jan. 20.
The tournament will run from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5 across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar. The 24 participating teams are divided into six groups, with the top two from each and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
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