Thai media: 'The Southeast Asian king Vietnam has returned'

A major Thai football site drew attention with special assessments of Vietnam's national team situation after Malaysia was officially ruled defeated by AFC.

Thai media is paying considerable attention to the strong advancement of Vietnam's national team on the FIFA rankings. Several news outlets and football communities in the Land of the Golden Temple have simultaneously posted information about coach Kim Sang Sik and his team definitely gaining additional points following AFC's decision.

Specifically, the page Buriram Prankster v2 posted a noteworthy message: “The true king of Southeast Asia has returned.” The article emphasized that Vietnam's FIFA ranking will “jump nearly 25 points, thereby advancing from rank 108 to 103.” This is considered a crucial turning point, showing a major change in the position of Vietnam's national team within the region and globally.

This development stems from AFC's decision to rule Malaysia defeated 0-3 in matches against Vietnam and Nepal due to violations of naturalization regulations. Consequently, Vietnam's team is “restored” the points previously lost and benefits from the adjusted results. This is the key factor helping the red-shirted team achieve a leap on the FIFA rankings.

According to calculations published by regional media, Vietnam's national team is refunded approximately 13.99 points and gains an additional 10.5 to 11 points from the re-awarded wins. Overall, the team could increase nearly 25 points, raising the total points to around 1,214 and climbing to the 103rd position globally. This is a significant advancement, helping Vietnam move closer to the milestone of the FIFA top 100.

Not stopping there, Buriram Prankster v2 also emphasized that Vietnam's national team “is approaching a return to the world top 100 and closely trailing Thailand's national team.” This shows the direct competition between the two leading Southeast Asian football nations is becoming increasingly intense, especially in the context where FIFA rankings hold significant importance for seeding groups.

From a professional perspective, Thai media also recognizes that the penalty imposed on Malaysia not only alters the dynamics of Group F but also creates a chain effect. Vietnam is awarded a 3-0 win, thereby rising to lead with a perfect record and officially securing a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup by establishing a safe gap from competitors.

In the coming period, Vietnam's national team still has opportunities to increase points when facing Bangladesh and Malaysia in March 2026. If positive results continue, entering the FIFA top 100 is entirely feasible. Given the ongoing developments, it is understandable that Thai media acknowledges the strong resurgence of Vietnamese football on the regional map.