Hot Vietnamese football news today 18/8: Vietnam national team faces physical challenge

Hot Vietnamese football news today 18/8: Vietnam national team faces physical challenge. Bac Ninh Club retains former Hanoi Police FC head coach.

Vietnam national team faces physical challenge

A 2-0 victory over Malaysia in the first leg of the semi-finals gives Vietnam a significant advantage in the race for a spot in the 2026 ASEAN Cup final. However, coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad is grappling with fitness issues due to a packed match and travel schedule.

After the match in Malaysia on August 16, the Vietnam team returned to Hanoi on August 17 and had only two days to prepare for the second leg semi-final at My Dinh Stadium on August 19. If they advance, the team is expected to depart again on August 20 to face Thailand or Singapore in the first leg of the final on August 22.

After that, the Vietnam team will return home on August 23 before playing the second leg final on August 26. Thus, if they go all the way, Xuan Son and his teammates will have to endure at least four flights, with a density of roughly one match every three days.

The grueling schedule makes recovery, squad rotation, and energy management a critical challenge for coach Kim Sang Sik.

For now, the Vietnam team still needs to resolve the second leg against Malaysia to secure the ticket to the final.

Bac Ninh Club retains former Hanoi Police FC head coach

Bac Ninh Club officially extended the contract with coach Paulo Foiani, continuing to place trust in the Brazilian manager for the 2026/27 V-League season.

Coach Paulo Foiani joined Bac Ninh at the start of the 2025/26 season and quickly made his mark in building the team's playing style. Under the guidance of the former Hanoi Police FC head coach, the Kinh Bac side finished the First Division as runners-up with 45 points.

Bac Ninh then entered a play-off match for a V-League spot against PVF-CAND. After a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, Foiani’s team won on penalties, thereby officially securing promotion to the 2026/27 V-League.

Extending Foiani’s contract shows that Bac Ninh prioritizes stability on the coaching bench ahead of their first season in Vietnam's top football league. The Brazilian manager previously gained V-League experience when he led Hanoi Police FC in 2023.

After achieving the promotion goal, Bac Ninh is now entering a phase of preparing the squad and technical aspects for the bigger challenge in the V-League.

Vietnam women's national team practices 'weapons' to face Japan, Thailand

The Vietnam women's national team is refining their playing style under coach Hoang Van Phuc, aiming for the 2026 Asian Games.

In recent training sessions, the coaching staff has increased intensity with competitive drills, focusing on formation organization and transition play.

Defender Diem My stated that the whole team is gradually adapting to new tactical requirements, with defensive counter-attacking being an important option.

"Coach Phuc has started having the team work on formations, drills, and counter-attacking patterns," Diem My shared.

At the 2026 Asian Games, the Vietnam women's team is in the same group as Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand. Japan is rated as superior in level, while Thailand and Chinese Taipei are direct competitors.

Diem My believes that if they maintain focus and execute their game plan well, the Vietnam women's team has a chance to compete for a spot in the next round. This is an important period for coach Hoang Van Phuc to shape the team's core lineup.

Xuan Son attracts fans as Vietnam national team returns home

The Vietnam national team returned to Hanoi after a 2-0 victory over Malaysia in the first leg of the 2026 ASEAN Cup semi-finals. Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad received a warm welcome from fans at Noi Bai Airport.

Xuan Son was the player who attracted the most attention. The Vietnam national team striker continuously interacted with fans, signed autographs, and enjoyed relaxed moments with his family. Earlier, Xuan Son scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win on Malaysian soil, helping the Vietnam team gain a significant advantage ahead of the second leg.

Having just gone through a continuous journey of travel and matches, the Vietnam team's priority upon returning to Hanoi is physical recovery. The players were given a day off on August 17 before resuming training.

The Vietnam team will have only one training session on the afternoon of August 18 at My Dinh Stadium to prepare for the second leg semi-final. Coach Kim Sang Sik and his staff will review technical issues and finalize tactical plans.

The Vietnam vs. Malaysia match will take place at 8:00 PM on August 19.