The Vietnam national team must urgently prepare for the match against Malaysia.

The Vietnam national team is expected to have only about 10 days to gather and train in preparation for the crucial second leg against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Vietnam squad is entering a critical preparation phase for the second leg match against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, a decisive game that will determine the sole ticket to the final round. According to the plan, this match will take place on March 31 at Thien Truong Stadium, with Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team having limited time to finalize tactics and personnel.

After the conclusion of the National Cup quarterfinal matches, the Vietnam team is expected to regroup starting March 21. However, the full squad can only be assembled by March 22, after Hanoi Police Club completes their rescheduled V-League match against Da Nang. This means the team will have roughly 10 days for gathering, including training, friendly matches, and travel, before facing the key match against Malaysia.

Within this tight schedule, the coaching staff has planned an international friendly on March 26 to help players review the lineup, test personnel, and adjust tactics. This is considered a crucial step, especially as the team needs to be in top physical and mental condition to aim for a strong victory against their direct rival.

Currently, in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Vietnam ranks second, trailing Malaysia by 3 points. Due to head-to-head performance rules, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team must defeat Malaysia by at least a 5-goal margin to secure the qualifying spot independently. This is clearly a challenging task, particularly given the limited preparation time.

Nevertheless, the group standings could still shift if Malaysia faces sanctions from FIFA for violations related to the use of ineligible naturalized players in previous matches. If Malaysia’s points are deducted, Vietnam could qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup finals regardless of the March 31 result. However, this remains a possibility, and the team must proactively prepare for the toughest scenario.

Ahead of the national team’s gathering, the clash between Nam Dinh Club and Johor Darul Ta’zim at the ASEAN Club Championship is also viewed as a “trial by fire” for the upcoming Vietnam–Malaysia encounters. The presence of Nguyen Xuan Son and naturalized players on the Malaysian side draws fans’ attention, as these matches carry significance not only at the club level but also serve as a warning for the intense upcoming national team battles.