The team's flight left at 8.40 am and is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta at 1 pm local time. From the Indonesian capital, head coach Kim Sang Sik and his players will travel by bus to Bandung, where Vietnam will play their first two group-stage matches. The journey from Jakarta to Bandung is expected to take around three and a half hours.
After winning the previous ASEAN Cup, Vietnam are once again targeting the top prize at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. However, Kim Sang Sik's side face a number of challenges ahead of the tournament.
Just before the team's departure, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai was ruled out after suffering a left ankle injury. Kim Sang Sik responded by calling up midfielder Vo Hoang Minh Khoa of Becamex Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen the squad.
In addition to Quang Hai, the coach will be without Van Vi, who has sustained a calf muscle tear, while centre-back Thanh Chung is unavailable due to health issues.
The fitness of midfielder Hoang Duc is also a concern. The Ninh Binh player is racing against time to recover in time for the tournament.
Despite the absence of several key players, Kim Sang Sik has handed first-time call-ups to Adou Minh and Williams Minh Hoang. Adou Minh said he was determined to enjoy the special occasion and was ready to contribute whenever given the opportunity.
According to the tournament schedule, Vietnam will open their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign against the Philippines on September 26 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung. They will then face Thailand on September 29 and Pakistan on October 2.
