South Korean newspaper: 'To win the ASEAN Cup, the Vietnam national team must understand Indonesia'

South Korea's Aju News recently released a detailed article about a journey to Indonesia to observe the Indonesian national team's friendly versus Mozambique in the June FIFA Days.

Coach Kim Sang Sik went directly to the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on June 9 to watch the friendly between Indonesia and Mozambique. The South Korean manager appeared in the stands with an assistant and briefly told the media that he had come to see the Indonesian team play.

However, media outlets in Indonesia and South Korea believe this was actually a "scouting" trip aimed at supporting Vietnam's campaign to defend their ASEAN Cup title. The two teams are in the same group A alongside Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste, and are considered top contenders for the group's top spot.

According to Aju News, Coach Kim Sang Sik was particularly interested in changes in Indonesia's playing style, personnel arrangements, and tactical system under coach John Herdman. The archipelago nation used the June FIFA Days to gather their squad and played matches against Oman and Mozambique.

Coach John Herdman himself acknowledged that Kim Sang Sik was conducting "spying" activities. However, the Canadian tactician noted that Indonesia's current performance will not fully resemble what they show at the ASEAN Cup 2026, as the tournament does not fall within FIFA Days, leading to significant squad changes.

Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), was also surprised to learn that Coach Kim Sang Sik was in the stands. Still, he said it is normal for top teams to constantly monitor each other and affirmed that Indonesia is receiving significant attention due to its rapid progress in recent years.

The article also cited positive reactions from Vietnamese fans. Many praised the professionalism of Coach Kim Sang Sik for proactively traveling to Indonesia to study the opponent rather than just waiting for reports.

Some fans believe that thoroughly analyzing Indonesia's ball distribution system, use of wide areas, and the combination between naturalized players and local players will play a key role in the competition for Southeast Asian supremacy.

Aju News concluded that Coach Kim Sang Sik's trip was not merely about watching a match, but demonstrated the determination of the defending champions Vietnam in preparing thoroughly for the opponent considered the most "dangerous" at the ASEAN Cup 2026.