Coach Kim Sang Sik Busy Preparing for FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026: The Midfield Puzzle and the Pressure of the Crown

The stopwatch in Beijing is still running, and in Hanoi, Coach Kim Sang Sik is also counting down the days. The South Korean tactician is busy with his plan to rebuild the midfield for the Vietnam national team ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, a tournament we enter as defending champions. But the journey to defend the crown is not just about victories; it is a tactical puzzle full of challenges from this very moment. The context of this year's tournament has several special features. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 will take place in September and October, a major shift from the traditional November-December schedule. This means the V-League 2026/27 will only have two rounds played before making way for the FIFA Days break. For a coach who needs time to experiment, this is a real constraint. I have followed many transfer windows and national team gatherings, and I can say that having to identify personnel within about two weeks is a significant challenge. The key point Coach Kim Sang Sik has frankly pointed out: both Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc have attacking tendencies. This is not a criticism, but a tactical admission. Both are world-class number 10s, but when placed together, they create an imbalance. They need a 'sweeper' behind them, a holding midfielder who can contest and recover balls. This is the classic 'two number 10s' problem that any coach must face. I call this the champion's breaking point – it often appears before the period they are criticized. Coach Kim Sang Sik's announcement that he will add midfielders capable of contesting and recovering balls shows that he has seen this gap very early. This is a positive signal. Instead of waiting until the tournament starts to patch things up, he is proactively seeking solutions. His plan is to watch the first two rounds of the V-League to find suitable candidates. This approach shows pragmatism and respect for reality. Before criticizing, find the champion's breaking point. But the question is: who will take on this role? Vietnamese football lacks a true defensive midfielder of international caliber. This is a long-standing problem. Current options are all players with a tendency to be mobile or attacking. Finding a real 'sweeper' in a context where the V-League has just started is a difficult task. I don't call it a hunch – I call it the third repeated pattern. We have seen this in previous AFF Cup editions, when the midfield struggled against physically stronger opponents. Group B of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is also a big challenge. Being in the same group as Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan creates special pressure. Thailand is always the traditional rival, the Philippines has improved remarkably, and Pakistan is an unknown. Notably, the new format: the group winner advances directly to the final, the runner-up plays the bronze medal match. This means no mistakes are allowed. One loss in the group stage could cost us the very ticket to the final. The involvement of FIFA in this year's tournament is also a notable signal. FIFA's official organization indicates a formal partnership, bringing stricter governance standards. This could bring commercial benefits, but also raises higher professional requirements. FPT Play will broadcast the entire tournament live, a sign that the tournament's commercial value is increasing. The name 'ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026' also indicates the involvement of a title sponsor. Regarding the schedule, the V-League having to pause after two rounds will create a familiar dispute between clubs and the national team. Clubs will lose key players right at the start of the season, which could affect their revenue and results. This is a classic issue in Vietnamese football, and it will heat up again in the coming time. I have followed youth football and the national team for many years, and I can say that Coach Kim Sang Sik proactively addressing the midfield issue is a good sign. But the biggest question remains: do we have enough time to find the right solution? With only two V-League rounds before the FIFA Days, time is a real challenge. The stopwatch does not lie – but it only tells half the story. The other half lies in the coaching staff's ability to read the game and make timely decisions. The pressure of defending the crown is a double-edged sword. It can create motivation, but it can also create tension. With an experienced coach like Kim Sang Sik, I believe he will know how to manage this pressure. But Southeast Asian football is changing rapidly, and no one can rest on their laurels. 120 data points are not enough – I need a second look. And that second look will come from the very first matches of the V-League, where candidates for the holding midfielder position will show their abilities. The final question I pose is: are we expecting too much from finding a new 'sweeper', or should we trust players who already have international experience? This is a difficult decision, and it will shape our title defense campaign. The stopwatch in Beijing is still running – and I am still counting.