Vietnam's opponent trains in Japan ahead of the Asean Cup

The Cambodian squad will undergo a training stint in Japan between July 14 and 22 as part of their buildup for the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup.

According to the plan, coach Koji Gyotoku’s side will assemble and practice in Phnom Penh before traveling to Japan. During the training period, Cambodia is expected to play two friendly matches to evaluate the squad and refine tactical aspects ahead of the tournament's opening day.

This is considered an important preparatory step for Cambodia in the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, where they aim to advance past the group stage for the first time. The Japanese head coach has repeatedly stated that the Cambodian team has made significant progress thanks to the development of young players and the contributions of naturalized players.

Ahead of the regional tournament, Cambodia recently made an impression by defeating Hong Kong (China) 2-0 in a friendly match in June. This was the first time the temple-land team had beaten this opponent after 11 encounters.

In the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, Cambodia is placed in Group A alongside defending champions Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and Timor Leste. According to the schedule, Cambodia will face Singapore, Indonesia, and Timor Leste in turn before meeting the Vietnam team in the final group-stage match on August 7.

In addition to the training camp in Japan, coach Koji Gyotoku is also closely monitoring the squad situation as the domestic season is about to begin. Key players such as Sieng Chanthea, Min Ratanak, Nick Taylor, Yudai Ogawa, and Abdel Kader Coulibaly are expected to play central roles in Cambodia's 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup campaign.

Cambodia is the second Southeast Asian team to announce overseas training plans before the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, following the Vietnam team's training stint in Incheon (South Korea) from July 2 to 14. This shows the strong determination of coach Koji Gyotoku's side in their goal of competing for a semifinal spot.