Vietnam will go into the second leg of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 final in Hanoi on Wednesday with a 2-0 lead over Thailand, but Kim Sang-sik has made it clear that the job is not yet finished. The coach knows his side are in control, yet his message has been simple: there is still work to do before any celebration can begin.
The first leg in Bangkok on Saturday gave Vietnam the platform they wanted, and now the pressure shifts to Mỹ Đình National Stadium, where high ticket demand has made a sold-out crowd the expectation. Vietnam are trying to defend the regional crown for the first time in the competition’s 30-year history, having won the title in 2008, 2018 and 2024.
Kim Sang-sik said: “We will play our final game and the players have prepared very well.” He added that the squad had “worked very hard over the last two months until the final,” and said Wednesday “will be an historic day for Vietnamese football and the people who write this history are the players.”
Vietnam still have work to do
That is the key point in this tie. A 2-0 lead is a strong position, but it is not the same as a trophy. Kim Sang-sik said: “I know we have an advantage but until now we have nothing in our pocket. Tomorrow I will ask my players to do their best so that we can get the result we want.”
It is the right message for a final that still has Thailand involved. Vietnam can lean on the result from the opening leg, but they cannot afford to think the job is over. The coach’s tone suggests a team that understands the size of the occasion rather than one that is already looking ahead to the celebration.
The dance promise adds to the occasion
There is, of course, a lighter side to the build-up. Kim Sang-sik had previously celebrated on the pitch after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC won the K League 1 title in 2022, and he has already promised something similar if Vietnam complete the task again.
He said: “If the players and supporters want me to dance, I will dance.” He also added: “I really hope Nguyễn Đình Bắc will score a goal and if he scores then maybe he and I can celebrate by dancing together.”
That is the sort of quote that captures the mood around a final like this. The pressure is real, but so is the belief. Vietnam have the advantage, the home crowd and the momentum. What they still need is the finishing touch.
Đình Bắc reflects the team mood
Nguyễn Đình Bắc underlined how much support the squad has already received. He said: “The team is very happy because we have received a lot of support from the spectators.” With the ticket demand so high, he added that if the ground is full, the players will “try our best to show a good performance for the fans.”
He also stressed that the squad are not getting carried away by individual targets. “Until now Xuân Son and I have not focused on individual targets,” he said. “If the team can win tomorrow then that’s the biggest victory and we’ll try to bring the victory for the spectators.”
Perhaps the most telling line came when he insisted the group are still thinking like the tie is level. “I think for me and my team mates, until now we think the result is 0-0. We don’t have any advantage. Before the match we will prepare very carefully to show the best performance.”
That is exactly the mentality Vietnam need. They may be 2-0 up, but finals can change quickly. In Hanoi, with a title defence on the line, the challenge is to finish the job with the same control that got them this far.
