Coach Kim Sang Sik is closing in on Park Hang Seo's record; MLS youngster wants to play for the Vietnamese national team.
Coach Kim Sang Sik has the opportunity to break his predecessor's record of 18 unbeaten matches, while midfielder Gavin Turner from the MLS (USA) has expressed his desire to contribute to Vietnamese football.
Vietnamese football is witnessing historic milestones as coach Kim Sang Sik maintains impressive form with the national team, while also receiving positive signals from the pool of Vietnamese expatriate players currently playing in the United States.
Coach Kim Sang Sik has the opportunity to break a historical record.
Coach Kim Sang Sik is maintaining a stellar run of form with the Vietnamese national team, with 17 consecutive unbeaten matches, including 13 wins. This achievement puts him close to the record of 18 unbeaten matches set by his predecessor, Park Hang Seo.
According to the schedule, the Vietnamese national team will begin their AFF Cup 2026 campaign next July. Their opening opponent will be the winner of the play-off match between Timor Leste and Brunei. A draw or a win against this supposedly weaker opponent would allow Coach Kim to equal Coach Park's record. The next challenge will be at home against Singapore; if they maintain their unbeaten record, Coach Kim Sang Sik will officially set a new milestone with 19 unbeaten matches.
Young star from MLS wants to contribute to the Vietnamese national team.
Besides the successes on the pitch, Vietnamese football has received noteworthy news regarding its personnel. Gavin Turner, a 19-year-old midfielder of half-Vietnamese descent currently playing for DC United in Major League Soccer (MLS), has shared his desire to represent the Vietnamese National Team.
The emergence of young talents from developed soccer nations like the United States is expected to increase the competitiveness and quality of coach Kim Sang Sik's squad in the future, provided the legal procedures are completed.
Changes on the coaching bench
In other news, the Vietnamese national team's coaching staff has undergone a significant personnel change. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially terminated the contract with assistant coach Lee Jung Soo by mutual agreement. Lee was a close confidant of head coach Kim Sang Sik since he took office in May 2024.
At the club level, The Cong Viettel has sent a letter to the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) requesting that assistant coach Nguyen Van Bien be appointed to replace head coach Velizar Popov in handling press conferences for the remainder of the season.
However, this proposal was rejected by VPF. The league's governing body affirmed that current regulations require the head coach to be present at the post-match press conference to ensure the professionalism of the league.
Vietnam U20 women's team and their goal of the World Cup.
At the youth level, the Vietnam U20 women's team made history by advancing beyond the group stage of the 2026 AFC U20 Women's Championship for the first time after defeating Bangladesh. The next challenge for the team will be against the strong Japan U20 women's team in the quarter-finals.
The match is scheduled to take place at 8 PM on April 11th at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand. If they can pull off an upset against their Japanese opponents, the Vietnam U20 women's team will officially qualify for the Women's U20 World Cup Finals.
Other prominent sports news
- Futsal:The Vietnamese Futsal team suffered a 2-4 defeat against Thailand in the final group stage match of the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, thus losing their top spot and will face Indonesia in the semi-finals.
- Manager transfers:Hanoi Police FC has added Brazilian expert Mavi Lopes as an assistant to head coach Mano Polking in preparation for the final stages of the season.
