Vietnam national team lands in Indonesia: 200 km road journey before FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026

On the afternoon of September 23, the Vietnam national team landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, beginning their campaign at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Instead of taking an internal flight to Bandung, the squad boarded a bus for a 200 km drive, arriving in the evening. The choice was made to maintain routine and minimize airport waiting time, although the 12+ hour journey left players visibly tired. A team official told media that the players were 'relatively tired' after the long flight but remained focused. A light recovery session was scheduled at the hotel that evening, before full training began on September 24. Arriving two days before the opener against the Philippines on September 26 reflects careful planning for a congested schedule. A notable change in the squad was the absence of midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai. The VFF said he could not travel for health reasons. Vo Hoang Minh Khoa was called up as a replacement, flying separately from Ho Chi Minh City with VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu. This dedicated travel arrangement underlined the importance of the late call-up. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 introduces a two-division format for the first time. Indonesia hosts Division 1, while Hong Kong hosts Division 2. Vietnam are in Group B with Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan; Group A features Indonesia, India, Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament runs within the FIFA Days window from September 24 to October 3, ensuring club release obligations. Vietnam play three group matches in six days: the Philippines (Sept 26), Thailand (Sept 29) and Pakistan (Oct 2). The Thailand fixture is likely to decide top spot. The opening match against the Philippines is therefore a chance to bank points before the key encounter. From a tactical viewpoint, Quang Hai's absence leaves a gap in the creative midfield. In recent set-ups, he served as the primary link between midfield and attack. Vo Hoang Minh Khoa is expected to fill that role, but his integration time is short — he joined the squad in Jakarta and had yet to receive his official kit. The real challenge for the coaching staff is managing physical load across three matches in six days. Rotation decisions, especially between the Philippines and Thailand games, will be crucial. A sensible approach could be to rotate against Pakistan if qualification is already secured. The VFF's logistics operation — including a separate flight for Minh Khoa — reflected a service-oriented approach. Medical staff were reinforced after some key players had fitness issues during the final camp in Hanoi. Monitoring biometric data in the first days at Bandung is a priority. India's inclusion in Group A signals the tournament's expansion beyond ASEAN borders. FIFA is testing a tiered competition model that could feature promotion and relegation in the future. For Vietnam, being placed in Division 1 brings both opportunity and pressure: a top team is expected to go far. Overall, Vietnam remain among the favorites to win Division 1, but the journey will be demanding. The loss of Quang Hai, combined with a congested schedule, places a premium on squad depth. Coaching staff need a clear plan for each match. Fans should not be overly pessimistic. The Philippines match, though not trivial, is one Vietnam have historically handled well. If they take three points, the clash with Thailand four days later will decide the group. Pakistan, the remaining opponent, are less fancied but always competitive. The big question is whether Vietnam can control the tempo after a 200 km drive following a long flight. The answer will come from training sessions in Bandung. As in refereeing, there are runs only the official sees; the rest sees only the result. Preparation matters as much as the match itself. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 opens a new chapter for Southeast Asian football. Vietnam enter as a heavyweight, carrying telling numbers: 200 km, 12 hours, three matches in six days. They cannot change the schedule, but they can change their approach. The Philippines game on September 26 will begin to answer the fitness question. From another angle, the VFF decision to send Vice President Tran Anh Tu on the same flight as Minh Khoa may also be an administrative move to accelerate the player's registration before September 26. Whatever the reason, this detail shows that personnel decisions always receive support from the highest level of the federation. The most important thing is that Minh Khoa has enough time to adapt to the system and show his role when called upon.