What force is there for the Vietnamese team?
The 2024 AFF Cup championship has partly healed the wounds of the Vietnamese team, after a tumultuous transition process when the Coach Park Hang-seo era ended. However, the Southeast Asian throne is simply a stopping point, which Vietnamese football has actually reached twice before.
The number one goal of Vietnamese football, as coach Kim Sang-sik mentioned, is still to advance to Asia. In particular, the 2030 World Cup qualifiers will be the target that Mr. Kim and his students are aiming for, with the task of returning to the third qualifying round.
Coach Kim Sang-sik
Under coach Park Hang-seo, the Vietnamese team reached the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup (the first time in history to reach this qualifying round). However, just two years later, coach Philippe Troussier could not help Vietnam reach the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, even though in theory, the format of awarding up to 18 places in the third qualifying round opens up greater opportunities. for Quang Hai and his teammates.
The Vietnamese team and its Asian rivals will join the 2030 World Cup qualifying race in 2027, two years from now. Although there is still a long time to prepare, the plan for forces and people must be drawn up right now.
The Vietnamese team won the AFF Cup with the core of the squad born from 1992 to 1998, including a group of players born in 1995 (Bui Tien Dung), 1996 (Pham Xuan Manh, Do Duy Manh, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Van Toan, Chau Ngoc Quang), 1997 (Nguyen Quang Hai, Ho Tan Tai, Nguyen Xuan Son, Nguyen Thanh Chung) and 1998 (Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Van Vi, Pham Tuan Hai) plays the leading role.
After 2 more years, these players will turn from 29 to 31 years old, starting to cross the slope and find it difficult to improve their physical strength and level, when their desire is saturated.
Many Vietnamese players will reach the age of 29 and 30 when the 2030 World Cup qualifiers begin.
Obviously, experience still plays an important role for coach Kim Sang-sik to mold the team to victory. However, experience needs to be “coordinated” effectively with youth. But in Mr. Kim’s hands right now, the force of players who will reach their peak age in 2027 (born between 2000 and 2003) does not have a clear mark.
Only Nguyen Hai Long (2000) and Bui Vi Hao (2003) are rare players whose future Mr. Kim can plan for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
The screening begins
During the meetings in June, September, October, November and at the AFF Cup 2024, Mr. Kim Sang-sik rarely gave opportunities to young people. Because as Mr. Kim shared, his suitcase at the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) expert villa was not yet fully opened. The Korean coach always faces the risk of being fired at any time, if he does not reach the target of reaching the 2024 AFF Cup final.
The pressure for achievement forced Mr. Kim to use the most experienced force to ensure short-term glory.
However, the 2030 World Cup qualifiers have a different nature. The Korean strategist has up to 2 years to mold people. During this time, the Vietnamese team will participate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, with a density of 1 to 2 matches divided evenly at FIFA Days in March, June, September, October, November 2025 and March 2026.
With a long-term competition spread over many months, coach Kim Sang-sik will have breathing space to both test the young factor and ensure victory. Young stars “transplanted” from the U.23 team will have a place to perform. Not to mention, the U.23 Asia 2026 qualifying round and SEA Games 33 taking place this year will give Mr. Kim a more accurate view of the strength of Vietnamese youth. The success or failure of the 2030 World Cup goal depends on this generation.
After returning to Korea to rest, coach Kim Sang-sik will return to Vietnam to plan specific forces and tactics for the 2027 Asian Cup and 2030 World Cup. The next step on Mr. Kim’s adventure journey prepare to start.
