Coach Kim Sang Sik leads U23 Vietnam to participate in two major tournaments

On the afternoon of June 11, the Vietnamese team returned to Hanoi , concluding the second round of the final qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup after a trip to Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia. Despite their best efforts, coach Kim Sang Sik's team could not earn a single point, accepting a heavy 0-4 defeat.

Vietnam are currently second with 3 points and a goal difference of +1, while Malaysia are in the lead with 6 points and a goal difference of +6. According to the regulations, the rankings in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup are determined based on points, head-to-head record, total goal difference, number of goals, fair-play points and a draw if necessary.

HLV Kim Sang Sik dẫn dắt U23 Việt Nam dự hai giải đấu lớn - 1 — The Vietnamese team returned home on the afternoon of June 11 (Photo: VFF).

This means that to win the right to top the group, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team need to win all remaining matches, and must beat Malaysia by at least 5 goals in the second leg at home in March 2026. In case of winning Malaysia by 4 goals, the Vietnamese team will have to compare additional indicators to determine the top position.

Coach Kim Sang Sik frankly admitted: “We have to admit that Malaysia has become significantly stronger thanks to the naturalized players. However, football always has miracles. If we prepare well for the rematch in Hanoi, I think we still have a chance to make up for the four goals we lost today.”

HLV Kim Sang Sik dẫn dắt U23 Việt Nam dự hai giải đấu lớn - 2 — Coach Kim Sang Sik encourages his students (Photo: VFF).

After the second training session and matches, the players will return to their clubs to continue participating in the remaining rounds of the V-League, First Division and National Cup. The Vietnam team will regroup during FIFA Days in October to prepare for the home match against Nepal on October 9, followed by the return match away on October 14.

Before that, Coach Kim Sang Sik will join the Vietnam U23 team to participate in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship in Indonesia in July and the 2026 Asian U23 qualifiers at Viet Tri Stadium in September. Thus, this is the first time the Korean coach has led the U23 team after more than a year working in Vietnam.