HOT: Vietnam National Team immediately confirms its first opponent after the AFF Cup

Vietnam's national squad is scheduled to face Chinese Taipei in a friendly during the September FIFA Days in preparation for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.

The Vietnam national team is likely to have an additional international match in September to gear up for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. According to information from the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA), the Vietnam national team is expected to play a friendly against Chinese Taipei during the September FIFA Days. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has not yet made an official announcement regarding this plan, but if confirmed, it will be a notable warm-up match for Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad before entering the regional tournament.

The friendly against Chinese Taipei is expected to help the Vietnam national team's coaching staff continue refining the squad, test personnel, and develop tactical plans ahead of an important schedule. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 also takes place during the FIFA Days period, so the Vietnam team has the opportunity to call up their best players, including those playing abroad. This is a significant advantage in preparing for the goal of competing for high achievements.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is the first regional international tournament directly managed and operated by FIFA, separate from the traditional ASEAN Championship. The tournament is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3, 2026. Holding it within the FIFA Days window not only makes it easier for teams to assemble their strongest squads, but the match results will also count towards the FIFA World Rankings with coefficients applied to official international matches during this period.

Another notable point is that the scale of the FIFA ASEAN Cup has been expanded beyond the scope of Southeast Asian member associations. In addition to regional teams, this year's tournament also includes guest teams such as Pakistan and Hong Kong (China). The presence of these non-Southeast Asian opponents is expected to increase competitiveness and provide participating teams with diverse tests of playing styles.

According to the announced format, the tournament is divided into two tiers: Division 1 and Division 2. Division 1 matches are held in Indonesia, while Division 2 takes place in Hong Kong (China). The Vietnam national team is in Group B of Division 1 alongside Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines. Group A consists of Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore. In Division 2, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Brunei are in Group A, while Cambodia, Laos, and Timor-Leste are in Group B.

With the need to face Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan in the group stage, the Vietnam national team will require thorough preparation in both personnel and tactics. Therefore, if the friendly against Chinese Taipei is confirmed by the VFF, it can be seen as a suitable warm-up step for Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad. The tiered format of the FIFA ASEAN Cup is also expected to help teams of similar level meet more frequently, enhance professional quality, and create additional competitive motivation for future editions.