Kim Sang-sik is focusing his efforts on the Vietnam U22 team in preparation for the SEA Games 33.
The Vietnamese national team concluded 2025 with a 2-0 victory over Laos, taking a four-month break. Kim Sang-sik transferred to the U22 team, trained in Vung Tau, and then went to Thailand to participate in the SEA Games 33.
Immediately after the Vietnamese national team concluded their 2025 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and landed at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) on the afternoon of November 20th, coach Kim Sang-sik temporarily set aside his work with the national team to focus all his efforts on the U22 Vietnamese team, aiming for the 33rd SEA Games.
The national team players have been given time off and are expected to reconvene in March 2026 to prepare for the crucial match against Malaysia. Meanwhile, the South Korean coach immediately took over the U22 team from assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh, without any break, with a clear objective for the end of the year.
Schedule leading up to the 33rd SEA Games
According to the plan, the Vietnam U22 team will have their final training session in Vung Tau before traveling to Thailand on December 2nd. The team will play their opening match against Laos U22 on December 4th, before facing their direct competitor, Malaysia U22, on December 11th.
- Training: Vung Tau
- Travel: December 2nd to Thailand
- Opening match: Vietnam U22 vs Laos U22 (December 4th)
- The crucial match: Vietnam U22 vs Malaysia U22 (December 11)
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| 20/11/2025 | The Vietnamese national team returned home after defeating Laos 2-0 (Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers). |
| But | Vietnam U22 team trains in Vung Tau. |
| 02/12 | The entire team traveled to Thailand to participate in the 33rd SEA Games. |
| 04/12 | Vietnam U22 vs Laos U22 (opening match) |
| 11/12 | Vietnam U22 vs Malaysia U22 |
| 01/2026 | AFC U23 Asian Championship 2026 in Saudi Arabia |
| 03/2026 | The Vietnamese national team is expected to assemble and prepare for the match against Malaysia. |
Pressure to achieve results and the challenge of having enough players.
Following their success at the ASEAN Cup 2024, the goal set for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team is to win the gold medal at the SEA Games 33. The challenge is immense, as the U22 squad is weakened by Van Truong's ligament injury, coupled with fierce competition from Thailand and Indonesia.
The personnel gaps and tight match schedule forced the coaching staff to optimize the short training period before the tournament, while also allocating personnel appropriately for the two crucial group stage matches with predetermined timelines.
Impact on the 2026 plan
Immediately after the 33rd SEA Games, the group of young players (under the name U23) will participate in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, which will take place in January in Saudi Arabia. Vietnam is in Group A, described as the "group of death," along with the host nation, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.
At the national team level, the four-month break allows players to recharge before regrouping in March 2026 to prepare for the match against Malaysia. In this context, Coach Kim Sang-sik's swift transition to the U22 team demonstrates Vietnam's short-term focus on the SEA Games 33, while also paving the way for the subsequent U23 Asian Championship campaign.
