Indonesia plans to face Italy, and a personnel change is underway for the Vietnamese national team.

Southeast Asian football is witnessing ambitious developments, from Indonesia's plans to compete against world-class powerhouses to significant changes in the coaching staff of the Vietnamese national team. Notably, the naturalization strategy to realize the World Cup dream is also becoming a focal point in the region.

Indonesia aspires to compete against the Italian national team.

Following the success of their friendly match against Argentina in 2023, the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) is continuing its ambitious plan by targeting the Italian national team for the upcoming FIFA Days in June. Mr. Sumardji, a PSSI representative, confirmed that the Indonesian team will play two high-quality friendly matches during this period.

President Erick Thohir's strategy is to prioritize strong teams that did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. With Italy's failure in the play-offs, the four-time world champions perfectly fit the criteria Indonesia is looking for to improve its international standing and image.

Assistant coach Kim Sang-sik heads to Thailand to take charge of the team.

One piece of news that surprised Vietnamese football fans was the departure of assistant coach Lee Jung-soo. After officially parting ways with the Vietnamese national team and the U23 team for personal reasons, the South Korean strategist quickly reached an agreement to coach Kanchanaburi FC in the Thai League.

Lee Jung-soo's move to Thailand as head coach marks a new turning point in the coaching career of this trusted assistant. This forces coach Kim Sang-sik to make new personnel decisions in the coaching staff to maintain stability for the national team in upcoming campaigns.

The strength of the Vietnamese national team as seen through the eyes of the Thai press.

Despite changes in the coaching staff, the Vietnamese national team continues to receive high praise from the region. Thai Live recently expressed admiration for the "Golden Star Warriors'" record of 13 consecutive wins under coach Kim Sang-sik. The newspaper asserted that this is a historic milestone and extremely difficult to surpass in Southeast Asia.

According to analysis by Thai experts, this winning streak not only reflects individual capabilities but also demonstrates the effectiveness of the tactical system that coach Kim Sang-sik is building. This is considered a solid foundation for the Vietnamese national team to confidently conquer higher goals in the future.

Cambodia's naturalization strategy and expert perspective.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian Football Federation has announced its goal of qualifying for the World Cup between 2042 and 2046 through a massive naturalization strategy. With nine foreign players currently competing in the domestic league under investment or long-term residency agreements, Cambodia hopes to soon change its position in the region.

However, expert Duong Vu Lam believes that the Vietnamese national team should not be overly concerned about this wave of naturalization. Instead, the key to success still lies in youth training. Currently, training centers such as HAGL, Hanoi FC, and The Cong Viettel are showing clear effectiveness with names like Dinh Bac and Hieu Minh who possess superior physique and technique.

Changes in the domestic league and regulations regarding foreign players.

In the domestic arena, Viettel's coach Velizar Popov has officially escaped punishment from the VFF Disciplinary Committee after controversial statements about referees. In another development, Ninh Binh Club has expressed its opposition to the VPF's proposal to increase the number of foreign players from the 2026/27 season. The team argues that maintaining the current number of foreign players is necessary to protect playing opportunities and the development of young Vietnamese talents.