Facing Singapore, Vietnam's national team confronts a 'curse' under coach Kim Sang Sik

Under coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnamese team is enjoying a period of brilliance, yet My Dinh Stadium continues to be a place where the South Korean manager has not delivered outcomes as expected.

The upcoming match against Singapore in the second round of fixtures AFF Cup 2026 marks the return of the Vietnamese national team to My Dinh Stadium after nearly two years of playing at various other venues. For coach Kim Sang Sik, this match is not only crucial in the race for a semi-final spot but also presents an opportunity to erase unpleasant memories at the national stadium.

Coach Kim Sang Sik made his debut with the Vietnamese team at My Dinh Stadium with a 3-2 victory over the Philippines in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Despite securing all three points, the "Golden Star Warriors" endured a challenging match and only sealed the result thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Pham Tuan Hai.

During the international friendly matches in September 2024, Vietnam continued to play at My Dinh but lost 0-3 to Russia and 1-2 to Thailand. Consequently, Coach Kim Sang Sik's first three matches at this venue yielded only one win, accompanied by two losses and performances that were not entirely convincing.

Notably, after leaving My Dinh, the Vietnamese team consistently achieved positive results at other domestic venues. In the 2024 AFF Cup, Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad won all four matches at Viet Tri Stadium, defeating Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand in succession, laying the foundation for their Southeast Asian championship title.

This favorable streak continued at Binh Duong, Thong Nhat, Hang Day, Thien Truong, and Thai Nguyen. In 2026, the Vietnamese team successively defeated Bangladesh 3-0, Malaysia 3-1, and Myanmar 4-0 in home matches. These results demonstrate the team's significant progress compared to the early period when Coach Kim Sang Sik first took over.

Returning to My Dinh this time, the South Korean coach possesses a squad that is considered balanced and highly competitive. Alongside key players like Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, and Dinh Bac, the Vietnamese team has been reinforced by Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, Tai Loc, and goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik.

Singapore is leading Group A after two consecutive wins, but Vietnam has the advantage of playing at home, more rest time, and the momentum from a 7-0 victory over Timor Leste. If they secure all three points, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team will not only create a turning point in the 2026 AFF Cup race but also potentially end their own disappointing run at My Dinh.