AFF Cup 2026: Tactical Pieces of Coach Kim Sang-sik and the Fitness Puzzle for Vietnam National Team

When the opening whistle of the AFF Cup 2026 blows at the end of this year, the Vietnam national team will embark on a challenging journey under the hand of South Korean strategist – Kim Sang-sik. He is not a stranger to Asian football, but inheriting Park Hang-seo's legacy is a huge pressure. However, with a pragmatic football philosophy, controlling the tempo, and maximizing set-piece situations, Kim is gradually shaping a different style of play. At a recent closed training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, I had the opportunity to observe a 90-minute tactical drill. What I noticed most clearly was the transition in operation: from high-pressing with a Korean flavor to quick, direct counter-attacks. Wingers like Van Toan, Tuan Hai were asked to cut inside more often to create space for overlapping full-backs. This is a subtle adjustment compared to the Park era, where wingbacks were usually the center of every attacking wave. But football is not just tactics on a whiteboard. Physical fitness is a tough puzzle. After a dense V-League schedule, many key players like Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, or Tien Linh are facing overuse risks. I noted in a private interview that Coach Kim greatly values fitness data from the medical room. He once said: 'Russia does not forgive childishness. It only teaches. If we don't manage the workload, we will pay the price in the final minutes.' That sentence rang like a wake-up call for the entire coaching staff. In the historical head-to-head with rivals like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, fitness has always been the deciding factor in knockout rounds. At the AFF Cup 2026, Vietnam lost to Thailand in the semi-finals mainly because they could not maintain intensity in extra time. This time, Kim Sang-sik has planned to gather the team a week earlier to build the physical foundation. Training sessions are designed in cycles, combined with VO2 max testing and real-time heart rate monitoring. Another contrarian viewpoint comes from the goalkeeper position. Van Lam and Nguyen Manh are fiercely competing. Van Lam has international experience, but Nguyen Manh has shown remarkable stability in high-pressure training sessions. I believe the final decision will depend on footwork ability rather than reflexes. In the context of Kim wanting to build from the back, a goalkeeper who can launch attacks from deep will be key. One cannot ignore the impact of the fans. My Dinh Stadium will be packed, creating both strength and pressure. I witnessed at AFF Cup 2026 how domestic players elevated themselves thanks to the fervent support. But at the same time, excessive expectations also made them lose focus at decisive moments. Looking ahead, I believe Vietnam has enough potential to win the championship, but not through flashy play or individual superstars. Success will come from tactical discipline, scientific fitness management, and a bit of luck from set pieces. As the Japanese say: 'The champion in Tokyo doesn't cry. Only a clenched lip.' The peak does not need tears; it needs preparation down to every detail. Will Kim Sang-sik's 'defensive symphony' sound at the AFF Cup 2026? Let us wait and see.