Vietnam at the ASEAN Championship
 Hanoi people took to the streets to celebrate Vietnam's second AFF Championship win in December 15, 2018. | |||||||||
| Basic information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | ASEAN Championship | ||||||||
| Country |  Vietnam | ||||||||
| Sport | Association football | ||||||||
| Team level | National team | ||||||||
| Competition process | |||||||||
| Medal |
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| First season | 1996 | ||||||||
| Total season | 16 | ||||||||
| Game played | 92 | ||||||||
| Record (W–D–L) | 51–25–16 | ||||||||
| Goals for | 205 | ||||||||
| Goals against | 87 | ||||||||
| Notable matches | 2008 Final 2018 Final 2024 Final 2026 final | ||||||||
| Team record | |||||||||
| Best result | Champions (2008, 2018, 2024, 2026) | ||||||||
| Worst result | Group stage (2004, 2012) | ||||||||
| Other record | |||||||||
The Vietnam national football team, representing a unified Vietnam since 1975, participated in the ASEAN Championship for the first time in 1996 AFF Championship, the first edition of the tournament held in Singapore. Since then, Vietnam has become one of the most successful and consistent teams in Southeast Asia's biggest football tournament.
Vietnam's national team has been coached by several foreign managers, including Karl-Heinz Weigang, Henrique Calisto, and Park Hang-seo. The team, nicknamed the "Golden Star Warriors", has won the AFF Championship four times, in 2008, 2018, 2024 and 2026, and has reached the semi-finals or final in most other editions of the tournament.
History
In the inaugural tournament in 1996, Vietnam surprisingly won the bronze medal after defeating Indonesia.[1] However, the most memorable moment during this period was the 1998 tournament held on home soil. Under the guidance of coach Alfred Riedl, the first "Golden Generation," featuring players like Nguyễn Hồng Sơn and Lê Huỳnh Đức, defeated Thailand 3-0 in the semi-finals. Despite this, Vietnam suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat to Singapore in the final due to a goal by Sasi Kumar's shoulder, missing out on their first championship title. In the 2000, 2002, and 2004 tournaments, the team maintained consistent performance but often stopped at the semi-finals or group stage.
2008 marked a historic milestone when Vietnam won the Southeast Asian Championship for the first time. After a difficult start in the group stage, coach Henrique Calisto's team played brilliantly, overcoming Singapore in the semi-finals before defeating Thailand with a 3-2 aggregate score over two legs in the final. Lê Công Vinh's header in the final minute of injury time at Mỹ Đình National Stadium became a classic moment in Vietnamese football.[2] However, for almost a decade afterward (2010–2016), the team fell into a crisis and repeatedly lost in the semi-finals against Malaysia and Indonesia.
The arrival of South Korean manager Park Hang-seo at the end of 2017 completely changed the team's standing. At the 2018 AFF Championship, Vietnam demonstrated absolute dominance with a pragmatic and disciplined playing style. The team won their second championship after defeating Malaysia in the second leg of the final in Hanoi thanks to a single goal from Nguyễn Anh Đức. This was the tournament where Vietnam set a record for the longest clean sheet and affirmed their number one position in the region on the FIFA rankings.[3]
At the 2020 tournament (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia), Vietnam officially lost to Thailand in the semi-finals with a total score of 0–2. In 2022 – the final tournament under coach Park Hang-seo – the team reached the final but once again suffered a defeat against Thailand with a total score of 2–3, finishing as runners-up. After a turbulent transition period under coach Philippe Troussier, Vietnamese football entered a new era under the leadership of strategist Kim Sang-sik.
The turning point occurred at the 2024 ASEAN Championship. After overcoming their long-standing rivals in the semi-finals, Vietnam advanced to the final and defeated Thailand to win their third Southeast Asian championship title.
Overview
Record by season
| ASEAN Championship record | Coach(es) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | — | ||
 1996 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 10 |  Karl-Heinz Weigang | ||
| 1998 | Runners-up | 2/8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 |  Alfred Riedl | ||
 2000 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | Alfred Riedl | ||
 2002 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 12 | .svg.png){kind=small} Henrique Calisto | ||
 2004 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 |  Edson Tavares, Trần Văn Khánh | ||
| 2007 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 3 | Alfred Riedl | ||
| 2008 | Champions | 1/8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | Henrique Calisto | ||
| 2010 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | Henrique Calisto | ||
| 2012 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Phan Thanh Hùng | ||
| 2014 | Semi-finals | 3/8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 |  Toshiya Miura | ||
  2016 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | Nguyễn Hữu Thắng | ||
 2018 | Champions | 1/10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 4 |  Park Hang-seo | ||
| 2020 | Semi-finals | 3/10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | Park Hang-seo | ||
| 2022 | Runners-up | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 3 | Park Hang-seo | ||
| 2024 | Champions | 1st | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 6 | Kim Sang-sik | ||
| 2026 | Champions | 1st | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 5 | Kim Sang-sik | ||
| Total | 4 titles | 16/16 | 92 | 53 | 23 | 16 | 205 | 87 | — | ||
Team records
| Vietnam's ASEAN Championship record | |
|---|---|
| First match | Vietnam 3–1 Cambodia  (2 September 1996; Jurong, Singapore) |
| Biggest win | Vietnam 9–0 Laos  (17 January 2007; Jalan Besar, Singapore) |
| Biggest defeat | Vietnam 0–4 Thailand (27 December 2002; Jakarta, Indonesia) |
| Best result | Champions in 2008, 2018, 2024 and 2026 |
| Worst result | 6th in 2004 and 2012 (group stage) |
Season game log
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Vietnam win | |
| Opponent win | |
| Match draw | |
| Matches and results from 1996 to 2007 (Winner: 0, Runner-up: 1, Third place: 3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 AFF Championship (Result: Third place)
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1998 AFF Championship (Result: Runner-up)
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2000 AFF Championship (Result: Fourth place)
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2002 AFF Championship (Result: Third place)
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2004 AFF Championship (Result: Group stage)
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2007 AFF Championship* (Result: Semi-finals)
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| * For some reason, the tournament was held in 2007 instead of 2006 as originally planned. |
.svg.png){kind=small}
| Matches and results from 2008 to 2018 (Winner: 2, Runner-up: 0, Third place: 3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2008 AFF Championship (Result: Winner)
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2010 AFF Championship (Result: Semi-finals)
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2012 AFF Championship (Result: Group stage)
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2014 AFF Championship (Result: Semi-finals)
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2016 AFF Championship (Result: Semi-finals)
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2018 AFF Championship (Result: Winner)
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| Matches and result from 2020 to present (Winner: 1, Runner-up: 1, Third place: 1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2020 AFF Championship (in 20211) (Result: Third place)
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2022 AFF Championship (Result: Runner-up)
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2024 ASEAN Championship3 (Result: Winner)
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2026 ASEAN Championship (Result: Winner)
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| 1 Due to COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia, the 2020 tournament was postponed to 2021, but the tournament name remained unchanged. 2 (For 2020 tournament) Due to non-compliance with conditions set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Indonesia and Thailand was not allowed to be represented by its national flag. The sanctions took effect in October 2021. 3 From 2024, the competition will be rebranded as the ASEAN Championship. |
Outstanding season
Vietnam had three outstanding seasons in 2008, 2018, and 2024, winning the championship in all three.
2008 AFF Championship
In 2008 AFF Championship, Vietnam was placed in Group B alongside with Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos. The team entered the tournament under immense pressure after a streak of 11 consecutive matches without a win under coach Henrique Calisto. In their opening match in Phuket, Vietnam lost 0–2 to hosts Thailand, raising concerns about their chances of advancing. However, in the second match, Vietnam secured a dramatic 3–2 victory against Malaysia thanks to a decisive goal from nearly 40 meters by Nguyen Vu Phong and a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper. A resounding 4–0 win against Laos in the final match secured Vietnam's place in the semi-finals as the second-placed team in Group B.[4]
Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals was the defending champion Singapore, a team highly regarded for its disciplined style of play and a squad of naturalized players. In the first leg at My Dinh National Stadium, the two teams drew 0–0 in a closely contested match. The second leg at Kallang Stadium saw the resilience of the Vietnamese defense against the relentless pressure from the home team. In the 74th minute, following a sharp counter-attack, Le Cong Vinh sprinted down the left wing before delivering a perfect cross for Nguyen Quang Hai to score the only goal of the match. Winning 1–0 on aggregate after two legs, Vietnam reached the final for the first time in 10 years.[4]
Vietnam and Thailand faced each other again in a historic final. In the first leg at Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam caused a sensation by defeating the "War Elephants" 2-1 thanks to goals from Nguyen Vu Phong and Le Cong Vinh in the first half. This was Vietnam's first victory against Thailand on their home ground in an official tournament.[5]
The second leg match, played on the evening of December 28, 2008, at My Dinh Stadium, became one of the most memorable moments in Vietnamese football history. Thailand took the lead thanks to a goal by Teerasil Dangda in the 21st minute, bringing the aggregate score back to a tie. As the match entered its final seconds of injury time and spectators were thinking about extra time, from a free kick taken by Nguyen Minh Phuong, Le Cong Vinh executed a spectacular backward header that beat goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool. This goal secured a 1-1 draw in the second leg and a 3-2 aggregate victory, giving Vietnam its first-ever Southeast Asian championship title and creating a nationwide sensation and celebrations.[5]
Roster
Head Coach: Henrique Calisto[6]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Dương Hồng Sơn | 20 November 1982 (aged 26) | Hà Nội T&T | |
| 2 | DF | Đoàn Việt Cường | 1 January 1985 (aged 23) | TĐCS Đồng Tháp | |
| 3 | DF | Nguyễn Minh Đức | 14 September 1983 (aged 25) | Sông Lam Nghệ An | |
| 4 | DF | Lê Phước Tứ | 15 April 1984 (aged 24) | Thể Công | |
| 5 | MF | Nguyễn Minh Châu | 9 January 1985 (aged 23) | Xi Măng Hải Phòng | |
| 6 | DF | Phan Thanh Giang | 3 October 1981 (aged 27) | Đồng Tâm Long An | |
| 7 | DF | Vũ Như Thành | 28 August 1981 (aged 27) | Becamex Bình Dương | |
| 8 | FW | Thạch Bảo Khanh | 25 April 1979 (aged 29) | Thể Công | |
| 9 | FW | Lê Công Vinh | 10 December 1985 (aged 22) | Sông Lam Nghệ An | |
| 10 | MF | Trần Trường Giang | 1 November 1976 (aged 32) | Becamex Bình Dương | |
| 11 | DF | Lê Quang Cường | 2 January 1983 (aged 25) | SHB Đà Nẵng | |
| 12 | MF | Nguyễn Minh Phương | 5 July 1980 (aged 28) | Đồng Tâm Long An | |
| 13 | FW | Nguyễn Quang Hải | 1 November 1985 (aged 23) | Khatoco Khánh Hòa | |
| 14 | MF | Lê Tấn Tài | 4 January 1984 (aged 24) | Khatoco Khánh Hòa | |
| 15 | GK | Bùi Quang Huy | 24 July 1982 (aged 26) | Nam Định | |
| 16 | DF | Huỳnh Quang Thanh | 4 June 1984 (aged 24) | Becamex Bình Dương | |
| 17 | MF | Nguyễn Vũ Phong | 6 February 1985 (aged 23) | Becamex Bình Dương | |
| 18 | FW | Phan Thanh Bình | 1 November 1986 (aged 22) | TĐCS Đồng Tháp | |
| 19 | MF | Phạm Thành Lương | 9 October 1988 (aged 20) | Hà Nội ACB | |
| 20 | GK | Trần Đức Cường | 20 May 1985 (aged 23) | SHB Đà Nẵng | |
| 21 | FW | Nguyễn Việt Thắng | 13 September 1981 (aged 27) | Đồng Tâm Long An | |
| 22 | MF | Phan Văn Tài Em (c) | 23 April 1982 (aged 26) | Đồng Tâm Long An |
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | +11 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Vietnam |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 6 | |
| 3 | Malaysia |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Laos |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | −13 | 0 |
| Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
Sutee Suksomkit  34'Suchao Nuchnum 45+4' |
| Malaysia | 2–3 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Indra Putra Mahayuddin 20', 85' |
Phạm Thành Lương 16' Nguyễn Vũ Phong 72', 86' |
| Vietnam | 4–0 | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Việt Thắng 48' Phạm Thành Lương 63'Huỳnh Quang Thanh 66'Phan Thanh Bình 80' |
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam |
1–0 | Singapore |
0–0 | 1–0 |
| Singapore | 0–1 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Recap | Nguyễn Quang Hải 74' |
Final
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand |
2–3 | Vietnam |
1–2 | 1–1 |
| Thailand | 1–2 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
Dương Hồng Sơn  75' (o.g.) |
Recap | Nguyễn Vũ Phong 40' Lê Công Vinh 42' |
| Vietnam | 1–1 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Lê Công Vinh 90+4' |
Recap | Teerasil Dangda 21' |
2018 AFF Championship
Vietnam was placed in Group A along with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The team started well with a 3–0 victory over Laos away from home, followed by a 2–0 win against direct rival Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium. After a disappointing goalless draw against Myanmar, Vietnam finished the group stage with a dominant 3–0 victory over Cambodia. At the end of this phase, Vietnam topped Group A with 10 points, scoring 8 goals and, remarkably, conceding none, setting a record for defensive performance in the group stage.[7]
Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals was the Philippines, led by manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. In the first leg in Bacolod, Vietnam gained a significant advantage with a 2–1 victory thanks to goals from Anh Duc and Phan Van Duc. Returning to their home ground, My Dinh Stadium, for the second leg, the team maintained their dominance and secured a 2–1 victory in the final minutes thanks to goals from Quang Hai and Cong Phuong. Winning 4–2 on aggregate after two legs, Vietnam officially advanced to the final, their first in 10 years since 2008.[7]
In the final, Vietnam faced Malaysia again. The first leg at Bukit Jalil Stadium was dramatic; Vietnam took an early two-goal lead thanks to goals from Huy Hung and Duc Huy, but allowed their opponents to equalize 2–2 in the second half. The decisive second leg took place on December 15, 2018, at Mỹ Đình National Stadium. In the 6th minute, Nguyen Anh Duc scored the only goal after a pass from Quang Hai, giving Vietnam a 1–0 victory (3–2 on aggregate) and securing their second championship title after a 10-year wait.[8]
Roster
Head coach: Park Hang-seo
The final roster was announced on 3 November 2018.[9][10]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Bùi Tiến Dũng | 28 February 1997 (aged 21) | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| 3 | DF | Quế Ngọc Hải (vice captain) | 15 May 1993 (aged 25) | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| 4 | DF | Bùi Tiến Dũng | 2 October 1995 (aged 23) | Viettel |
| 5 | DF | Đoàn Văn Hậu | 19 April 1999 (aged 19) | Hà Nội |
| 6 | MF | Lương Xuân Trường | 28 April 1995 (aged 23) | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
| 8 | MF | Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng | 14 April 1989 (aged 29) | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| 9 | FW | Nguyễn Văn Toàn | 12 April 1996 (aged 22) | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
| 10 | FW | Nguyễn Văn Quyết (captain) | 27 June 1991 (aged 27) | Hà Nội |
| 11 | FW | Nguyễn Anh Đức | 24 October 1985 (aged 33) | Becamex Bình Dương |
| 12 | DF | Nguyễn Phong Hồng Duy | 13 June 1996 (aged 22) | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
| 13 | FW | Hà Đức Chinh | 22 September 1997 (aged 21) | SHB Đà Nẵng |
| 14 | FW | Nguyễn Công Phượng | 21 January 1995 (aged 23) | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
| 15 | MF | Phạm Đức Huy | 20 January 1995 (aged 23) | Hà Nội |
| 16 | MF | Đỗ Hùng Dũng | 8 September 1993 (aged 25) | Hà Nội |
| 17 | DF | Lục Xuân Hưng | 15 April 1995 (aged 23) | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| 19 | MF | Nguyễn Quang Hải | 12 April 1997 (aged 21) | Hà Nội |
| 20 | FW | Phan Văn Đức | 11 April 1996 (aged 22) | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| 21 | DF | Trần Đình Trọng | 25 April 1997 (aged 21) | Hà Nội |
| 22 | FW | Nguyễn Tiến Linh | 20 October 1997 (aged 21) | Becamex Bình Dương |
| 23 | GK | Đặng Văn Lâm | 13 August 1993 (aged 25) | Hải Phòng |
| 26 | GK | Nguyễn Tuấn Mạnh | 31 July 1990 (aged 28) | Sanna Khánh Hòa BVN |
| 28 | DF | Đỗ Duy Mạnh | 29 September 1996 (aged 22) | Hà Nội |
| 29 | MF | Nguyễn Huy Hùng | 2 March 1992 (aged 26) | Quảng Nam |
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 10 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 2 | Malaysia |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 | |
| 3 | Myanmar |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 7 | |
| 4 | Cambodia |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 3 | |
| 5 | Laos |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 0 |
| Laos | 0–3 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Nguyễn Công Phượng 11' Nguyễn Anh Đức 45+2'Nguyễn Quang Hải 68' |
      Laos
|
    Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 2–0 | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Công Phượng 11' Nguyễn Anh Đức 60' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
    Vietnam
|
    Malaysia
|
| Myanmar | 0–0 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Myanmar
|
Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 3–0 | Cambodia |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Tiến Linh 39' Nguyễn Quang Hải 41'Phan Văn Đức 61' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Vietnam
|
 Cambodia
|
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines |
2–4 | Vietnam |
1–2 | 1–2 |
| Philippines | 1–2 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Reichelt 45+2' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Nguyễn Anh Đức 12' Phan Văn Đức 48' |
    Philippines
|
Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 2–1 | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Quang Hải 84' Nguyễn Công Phượng 87' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
James Younghusband 89' |
Vietnam
|
   Philippines
|
Final
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia |
2–3 | Vietnam |
2–2 | 0–1 |
| Malaysia | 2–2 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Shahrul Saad 36' Safawi Rasid 61' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Nguyễn Huy Hùng 22' Phạm Đức Huy 25' |
Malaysia
|
Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 1–0 | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Anh Đức 6' |
Report (AFFSZ) Report (AFF) |
Vietnam
|
Malaysia
|
2024 ASEAN Championship
Vietnam were seeded in Group B alongside Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. The team had endured heavy criticism before the competition as a result of the previous failures during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, they started off strong with a 4–1 away victory over Laos.[27] This was followed by a narrow 1–0 victory against Indonesia at Việt Trì Stadium.[28] After managing to avoid a defeat against the Philippines with a last-minute equalizer from Doãn Ngọc Tân to end the away match at 1–1,[29] Vietnam achieved a dominant 5–0 home win against Myanmar, a match marked with the debut of naturalized player Rafaelson, who scored twice and provided two assists. With three victories and one draw, the team finished top of Group B.[30]
Vietnam encountered Singapore in the semi-finals. Following a goalless first half, Vietnam scored twice with a last-minute penalty from Nguyễn Tiến Linh followed by the second goal from Rafaelson three minutes later to end the first leg, an away fixture, with a 2–0 win for Vietnam.[31] In the return leg at home on 29 December, both players scored again, with Rafaelson scoring a brace to secure a comfortable 3–1 victory for the Golden Star Warriors.[32] With a 5–1 aggregate victory, Vietnam had advanced to the final, marking the first time that Vietnam had qualified for two successive ASEAN Championship finals.
The final was contested between Vietnam and defending champions Thailand, marking the second time in a row that both teams had met in an ASEAN Championship final. Vietnam hosted the first leg of the final on 2 January 2025 at Việt Trì Stadium. In the second half, Rafaelson scored twice, while Thailand had also scored a consolation goal to end the home fixture in a narrow 2–1 victory, Vietnam's first home victory over Thailand since 1998.[33] Three days later, Vietnam traveled to Rajamangala Stadium for the second leg. Phạm Tuấn Hải scored the opening goal for the team eight minutes into the match. However, Thailand regained the initiative after an Ben Davis equalizer, followed by Rafaelson's heavy injury a few minutes later which made him absent from the national team until November 2025. In the second half, Vietnam conceded a controversial long-range goal from Supachok Sarachat. The match turned tides again shortly after, as Weerathep Pomphan was sent off, giving the visitors a numerical advantage. The team utilized this opportunity and equalized with an own goal by Pansa Hemviboon. At injury time, a quick counter-attack from Vietnam culminated in Nguyễn Hai Long shooting the ball into the empty net and scoring the winner, as they emerged victorious with an 3–2 victory and triumphed 5–3 on aggregate, earning their third ASEAN Championship title after six years of await.[34]
Roster
Vietnam announced their 30-man preliminary list on 18 November 2024 for a training camp in South Korea to prepare for the tournament. On 3 December, Nguyễn Văn Vĩ, Nguyễn Văn Toàn and Nguyễn Xuân Son were added to the squad, extending the list to 33 players.[35] The final squad was announced on 5 December.[36]
Head coach: Kim Sang-sik
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Nguyễn Filip | 14 September 1992 (aged 32) | 9 | 0 | Cong An Hanoi |
| 2 | DF | Đỗ Duy Mạnh (captain) | 29 September 1996 (aged 28) | 58 | 1 | Hanoi FC |
| 3 | DF | Nguyễn Văn Vĩ | 12 February 1998 | 1 | 0 | Thep Xanh Nam Dinh |
| 4 | DF | Bùi Tiến Dũng | 2 October 1995 (aged 29) | 50 | 1 | The Cong-Viettel |
| 5 | DF | Trương Tiến Anh | 25 April 1999 (aged 25) | 8 | 1 | The Cong-Viettel |
| 6 | DF | Nguyễn Thanh Bình | 2 November 2000 (aged 24) | 24 | 1 | The Cong-Viettel |
| 7 | DF | Phạm Xuân Mạnh | 27 March 1996 (aged 28) | 14 | 0 | Hanoi FC |
| 8 | MF | Châu Ngọc Quang | 1 February 1996 (aged 28) | 6 | 1 | Hoang Anh Gia Lai |
| 9 | FW | Nguyễn Văn Toàn | 12 April 1996 | 64 | 7 | Thep Xanh Nam Dinh |
| 10 | FW | Phạm Tuấn Hải | 19 May 1998 (aged 26) | 31 | 7 | Hanoi FC |
| 11 | MF | Lê Phạm Thành Long | 5 June 1996 (aged 28) | 7 | 0 | Cong An Hanoi |
| 12 | FW | Nguyễn Xuân Son | 30 March 1997 | 0 | 0 | Thep Xanh Nam Dinh |
| 13 | DF | Hồ Tấn Tài | 6 November 1997 (aged 27) | 26 | 4 | Becamex Binh Duong |
| 14 | MF | Nguyễn Hoàng Đức | 11 January 1998 (aged 26) | 39 | 2 | Phu Dong Ninh Binh |
| 15 | FW | Bùi Vĩ Hào | 24 February 2003 (aged 21) | 5 | 1 | Becamex Binh Duong |
| 16 | DF | Nguyễn Thành Chung | 8 September 1997 (aged 27) | 24 | 0 | Hanoi FC |
| 17 | DF | Vũ Văn Thanh | 14 April 1996 (aged 28) | 52 | 5 | Cong An Hanoi |
| 18 | FW | Đinh Thanh Bình | 19 March 1998 (aged 26) | 6 | 0 | Phu Dong Ninh Binh |
| 19 | MF | Nguyễn Quang Hải | 12 April 1997 (aged 27) | 65 | 11 | Cong An Hanoi |
| 20 | DF | Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh | 1 January 1999 (aged 25) | 22 | 1 | Cong An Hanoi |
| 21 | GK | Nguyễn Đình Triệu | 4 November 1991 (aged 33) | 2 | 0 | Haiphong |
| 22 | FW | Nguyễn Tiến Linh | 20 October 1997 (aged 27) | 50 | 21 | Becamex Binh Duong |
| 23 | GK | Trần Trung Kiên | 9 February 2003 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Hoang Anh Gia Lai |
| 24 | MF | Nguyễn Hai Long | 27 August 2000 (aged 24) | 3 | 0 | Hanoi FC |
| 25 | MF | Doãn Ngọc Tân | 15 August 1994 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 | Dong A Thanh Hoa |
| 26 | MF | Khuất Văn Khang | 11 May 2003 (aged 21) | 16 | 1 | The Cong-Viettel |
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Philippines |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Indonesia |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Myanmar |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 4 | |
| 5 | Laos |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 2 |
| Laos | 1–4 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
     Laos
|
    Vietnam
|
    Vietnam
|
    Indonesia
|
| Philippines | 1–1 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
    Philippines
|
Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 5–0 | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Vietnam
|
   Myanmar
|
Knockout stage
Semi-final
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore |
1–5 | Vietnam |
0–2 | 1–3 |
| Singapore | 0–2 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
    Singapore
|
 Vietnam
|
| Vietnam | 3–1 | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
 Vietnam
|
    Singapore
|
Final
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 5–3 | Thailand | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Vietnam
|
Thailand
|
| Thailand | 2–3 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Thailand
|
Vietnam
|
References
- ↑ Quyên, Phương (2014-11-06). "Ký ức về kỳ AFF Cup đầu tiên: Thế hệ Vàng của bóng đá Đông Nam Á" [Memories of the first AFF Cup: The Golden Generation of Southeast Asian Football]. bongdaplus.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- ↑ "December 28th in history: Vietnam wins the 2008 AFF Cup; the creator of the Eiffel Tower passes away; Westminster Abbey is consecrated; singer Van Quang Long passes away". vietbao.vn. 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ "Vietnam wins AFF Cup 2018". vovworld.vn. 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- 1 2 Đạt, Như (2024-12-26). "Bán kết AFF Cup 2008: ĐT Việt Nam và ký ức đẹp trên sân của Singapore" [2008 AFF Championship Semi-final: Vietnam National Team and fond memories on Singapore's home ground.]. Voice of Vietnam. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- 1 2 "Ký ức chung kết AFF Cup 2008: Vỡ òa với 'bàn thắng vàng' của Công Vinh" [Memories of the 2008 AFF Cup final: Bursting with Cong Vinh's 'golden goal']. Tiền Phong. A Phi. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ↑ "HLV Calisto ch?t danh sách 22 tuy?n th? d? AFF Suzuki Cup 2008" (in Vietnamese). Vietnam Football Federation. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
- 1 2 "Hành trình vào chung kết AFF Cup 2018 của ĐT Việt Nam" [The Vietnamese national team's journey to the 2018 AFF Cup final]. Vietnam Television. Khánh Nguyễn. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- ↑ Pham, Linh (16 December 2018). "Vietnam beat Malaysia to win AFF Cup after decade wait". Hanoi Times. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ↑ "HLV Park Hang-seo chốt danh sách 23 cầu thủ tham dự AFF Suzuki Cup 2018" [Coach Park Hang-seo finished the list of 23 players to attend the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018] (in Vietnamese). Vietnam Football Federation. 3 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam release final 23-man squad for 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup". Fox Sports Asia. 4 November 2018. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Laos 0-3 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "Laos vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Group Stage]". World Football. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Vietnam 2-0 Malaysia". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam vs Malaysia [AFF Suzuki Cup: Group Stage]". World Football. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Myanmar 0-0 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "Myanmar vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Group Stage]". World Football. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Vietnam 3-0 Cambodia". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam vs Cambodia [AFF Suzuki Cup: Group Stage]". World Football. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Philippines 1-2 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ↑ "Philippines vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ↑ "REPORT: Vietnam 2 Philippines 1 (Vietnam win 4-2 on aggregate)". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam vs Philippines [AFF Suzuki Cup: Semi-finals]". World Football. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ↑ "FINAL 1ST LEG REPORT: Malaysia 2-2 Vietnam". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ↑ "Malaysia vs Vietnam [AFF Suzuki Cup: Finals]". World Football. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ↑ "FINAL 2ND LEG REPORT: Vietnam 1 Malaysia 0 (Vietnam win 3-2 on aggregate)". 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam vs Malaysia [AFF Suzuki Cup: Finals]". World Football. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- ↑ "Vietnam earn a smooth start after winning 4-1 against Laos". Nhan Dan Online. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "ASEAN Cup: Vietnam beat Indonesia 1-0, rise to Group B top spot". Voice of Vietnam. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Vietnam draw with Philippines after last-minute goal". Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) (in Vietnamese). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Vietnam crush Myanmar 5-0 to top ASEAN Cup group stage". VnExpress (VnExpress International). 21 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Football: Late Vietnam goals sink Singapore in first leg of ASEAN Championship semis". CNA. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Lions exit ASEAN Championship with heads held high after battling 3-1 defeat to Vietnam - Football Association of Singapore". www.fas.org.sg. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "Vietnam edges Thailand 2-1 in thrilling ASEAN Cup final opener". VietNamNet (VietNamNet Global). 2 January 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ Tan, Gabriel (5 January 2025). "ASEAN Championship decider delivers sheer drama as Vietnam dethrone Thailand". ESPN. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
- ↑ "HLV Kim Sang Sik bổ sung Xuân Son, Văn Vĩ cùng Văn Toàn cho đội tuyển Việt Nam" (in Vietnamese). Thể Thao & Văn Hóa. 3 December 2024.
- ↑ "HLV Kim Sang Sik công bố danh sách 26 cầu thủ tham dự ASEAN Cup 2024" (in Vietnamese). Vietnam Football Federation. 5 December 2024.