"As a Korean leader, my sense of mission remains unchanged; I will repay the support of Vietnamese fans"... Coach Kim Sang-sik aims for back-to-back titles at the 'Southeast Asian World Cup' Hyundai Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

The Vietnam national football team, led by Coach Kim Sang-sik, is set to defend its title in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship, known as the 'World Cup of Southeast Asia.'

On the 24th, Coach Kim Sang-sik issued his declaration for the 2026 AFF Hyundai Cup championship through his agency, DJ Management.

First, he recalled, "The moment I first won the AFF Championship (Hyundai Cup) as head coach of the Vietnam national team in 2024 remains one of the most unforgettable scenes in my football career."

Coach Kim also stated, "At that time, with a firm resolve to win, we poured everything into it together with the players," adding, "That intense passion ultimately led to the precious result of winning the championship."

The 2026 AFF Hyundai Cup kicks off on the 24th and will run for about a month across Southeast Asia until the 26th of next month.

Held every two years, the AFF Championship determines the top football nation in Southeast Asia. In the past, it was widely known to domestic football fans under names such as the Suzuki Cup and Mitsubishi Cup, depending on the title sponsor.

This year, marking its 30th anniversary since its inception, the tournament has welcomed Hyundai Motor as its new title sponsor and is launching anew under the name 'AFF Hyundai Cup.'

The biggest focus of this tournament is whether the 'defending champion' Vietnam can achieve back-to-back titles. With Coach Kim, Vietnam aims for its first-ever consecutive championship in history and its fourth overall title.

Under former coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam rose to the top of Southeast Asia and enjoyed a golden era. However, under the subsequent regime of Philippe Troussier, the team struggled and faced instability.

Coach Kim is the leader who brought Vietnam back to the summit from this crisis. After taking charge of the Vietnam national team in May 2024, he immediately secured the championship at the AFF Mitsubishi Cup, his first tournament since assuming office. Coach Kim also led the team to consecutive titles at the 2023 AFF U-23 Championship and the Southeast Asian Games last year.

Now, Coach Kim is leading Vietnam's A national team in pursuit of another historic achievement. In this tournament, Vietnam will compete in Group A against Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and East Timor.

A total of 10 countries are participating in this tournament. The teams are divided into two groups of five for the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. From the semi-finals onward, the champion will be decided through a home-and-away knockout tournament.

Coach Kim remarked, "Since our last victory, the pace of growth in football across the ASEAN region has accelerated even further," and predicted, "All participating teams will have prepared thoroughly, and the competition will be far more intense than before."

He then emphasized, "We too have been preparing for this tournament without a single moment of complacency to match that level."

Coach Kim also expressed his sense of responsibility to bring the joy of victory to the Vietnamese people once again. He stated, "As the head coach of the Vietnam national team, I always carry in my heart the responsibility to give the Vietnamese people and fans joy and pride once more."

He further added with conviction, "My mission as a Korean leader to contribute to the development of football in Vietnam remains unchanged."

He also stressed that fan support is an essential force for the national team to reach the summit. Coach Kim said, "Football is not a sport created by the strength of coaches or players alone," and explained, "The strongest team is formed when the squad, coaching staff, association, and fans become one team with one heart."

He then expressed confidence, stating, "I believe our Woo Ri (CEO)team possesses that strength."

Continuing, he said, "While I cannot promise a specific result in advance, I can confidently state that we will not give up until the final moment, that we carry the pride of representing Vietnam, and that we are determined to repay the support of our fans."

He also expressed gratitude, saying, "I sincerely thank all Vietnamese citizens who always believe in and support the national team," adding, "Your support becomes the greatest strength for the players."

Finally, Coach Kim urged, "Let us all come together once again to create a new chapter in Vietnam's football history."

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*This content was translated by AI.