Coach Kim Sang Sik unexpectedly will not directly lead the team at the Asian tournament.

Coach Kim Sang Sik will not personally manage the Vietnam Olympic team at the 2026 Asian Games as he is occupied with the national team's commitments.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially confirmed that Coach Kim Sang Sik will not directly lead the Vietnam Olympic team at the 2026 Asian Games. Instead, the South Korean strategist will delegate authority to an assistant to focus on his responsibilities with the Vietnam national team during important tournaments occurring at the same time.

This information was shared by VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu when discussing the Vietnam Olympic team’s plans for the 2026 Asian Games. Accordingly, the team participating in this Asian sports event will be built around a core of young players within the age range targeting the 2027 SEA Games. This is seen as a long-term preparation step for the goal of competing for medals at the regional tournament next year.

Mr. Tran Anh Tu stated: "The team will consist of players from the age group aiming for the 2027 SEA Games in order to prepare for the tournament to be held in Malaysia next year. The team's goal at the Asian Games is to go as far as possible, as this is a valuable opportunity for young players to gain international experience. Coach Kim Sang Sik will be busy with his duties for the Vietnam national team. Therefore, he will assign an assistant to lead the Olympic team at the Asian Games, similar to how Coach Dinh Hong Vinh was previously assigned to oversee youth teams."

According to VFF's plan, the Vietnam Olympic team will primarily use players born between 2005 and 2007. This generation is considered to have great potential and is being invested in to become the future reserve force for the national team. Previously, this group of players was also given opportunities to compete internationally under the guidance of Coach Dinh Hong Vinh at a friendly tournament in Xi'an, China.

The reason Coach Kim Sang Sik cannot directly lead the team at the Asian Games stems from the密集 schedule of Vietnamese football in 2026. The Asian Games, running from September 19 to October 6 in Japan, also coincides with the period when the Vietnam national team will gather for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup and important FIFA Days. This forces the South Korean manager to prioritize resources for the national team.

Despite the absence of the head coach, the Vietnam Olympic team is still tasked with competing at the highest level of determination. The 2026 Asian Games is not only an opportunity for young players to gain international experience but also an important stepping stone toward the 2027 SEA Games. In the context of the delegation strategy being implemented by the VFF, it is likely that an experienced assistant such as Dinh Hong Vinh will continue to play a key role in the journey of the Vietnam Olympic team at this continental arena.