Records and challenges of Coach Kim Sang Sik

Vietnam's squad is currently striving to protect their ASEAN Cup crown, while Coach Kim Sang Sik confronts a major individual test: ensuring the team secures the trophy once more.

A 7-0 victory over Timor Leste in the opening match of the 2026 ASEAN Cup enabled Coach Kim Sang Sik to set a new record, extending Vietnam's unbeaten run to 19 matches. Previously, Vietnam had an 18-match unbeaten streak from December 2016 to December 2018. That achievement was contributed to by three coaches: Nguyễn Hữu Thắng (4 matches), Mai Đức Chung (2 matches), and Park Hang Seo (12 matches).

However, for Coach Kim Sang Sik, the recent unbeaten streak with Vietnam holds only statistical significance. Among the opponents Vietnam faced during this record-setting period, only Thailand ranks in the world's top 100. The remaining opponents were all ranked below Vietnam on the FIFA rankings. In fact, Vietnam once lost 0-4 to Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, but later won 3-0 by default after the opponent was penalized by the AFC for falsifying naturalization documents.

More than anyone, Coach Kim Sang Sik and the Vietnam players understand that nothing lasts forever. At some point, this unbeaten streak will inevitably come to an end. For now, the team's focus is on each match individually. Looking ahead, Kim and his squad aim for the most important task: retaining their championship title, thereby successfully defending the Southeast Asian crown for the first time.

After the first two matchdays of Groups A and B at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, all teams have made their debuts, revealing the shape of potential title contenders, especially Thailand and Indonesia. This is the time for Coach Kim Sang Sik and his staff to study and evaluate each opponent's strength carefully, while also planning the most favorable and least risky path to reach the final match, where Vietnam can have a chance to lift the ASEAN Cup trophy once again.

It is no coincidence that Coach Kim Sang Sik decided to hold two closed training sessions after returning from Thailand. Information regarding tactics, personnel, or player injuries has been kept under wraps to ensure the best possible preparation. The Vietnam team needs thorough, meticulous, and careful preparation to make their journey at the 2026 ASEAN Cup run smoothly.

Thailand and Indonesia have both shown their strength, possessing new players capable of making a difference and surprising Vietnam. However, the immediate task is to secure three points against Singapore at Mỹ Đình Stadium on July 31 at 8:00 PM.

Singapore coach Gavin Lee stated: "If you watch the match between Vietnam and Timor Leste, you'll see the score doesn't reflect the true flow of the game. It exaggerates the strength of the winning team." He also said he has identified some issues in Vietnam's defense during that match and believes his players can exploit them.

On August 3, Vietnam will face a challenging away match at the Pakansari Stadium against Indonesia. However, before thinking about that game, Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team must defeat Singapore at Mỹ Đình on July 31. That is the immediate challenge.