As the Vietnam national football team gears up for the ASEAN Cup 2026, defender Phạm Xuân Mạnh has expressed confidence in their ability to defend their title. Speaking to the media before a training session at Legends Academy in Chonburi, Thailand, Xuân Mạnh noted that this year’s opponents are stronger and more evenly matched than in previous tournaments.

"Winning is tough, but defending the title is even tougher," Xuân Mạnh stated on July 22, highlighting the challenges ahead. Despite the difficulties, he is optimistic that the team will overcome the obstacles. "We will play our best, stay united, and support each other to protect what we have achieved," he added.

In preparation for the ASEAN Cup, Vietnam has undergone three weeks of training in South Korea, where they won three friendly matches. They also secured a 4-0 victory against Myanmar in a friendly in Thai Nguyen. Following these preparations, the team traveled to Thailand for their opening match against Timor Leste.

During their training sessions in Thailand, head coach Kim has emphasized a deep defensive strategy while also focusing on total offensive play, utilizing a strong lineup that includes naturalized players Xuân Son, Hoàng Hên, Tài Lộc, and rising star Đình Bắc. Xuân Mạnh mentioned that the team has had a solid start with four friendly wins, but they have also held meetings to analyze both their strengths and weaknesses to improve further.

"We have lost our captain Duy Mạnh, which is something no one wanted to happen," Xuân Mạnh remarked. "Therefore, Coach Kim has prepared the defense with the best strategies. It’s a collaborative effort among myself, Nhật Minh, Văn Hậu, and Thành Chung to ensure we communicate effectively and play cohesively to minimize goals conceded."

While the team has yet to analyze Timor Leste, Xuân Mạnh emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance first. "We are not yet thinking about our opponents; we are concentrating on perfecting our own strategies. Once we have established our best play style, we will then analyze the opponent," he explained.

The ASEAN Cup 2026 will take place from July 24 to August 26, with Vietnam competing in Group A alongside Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor Leste. Group B includes Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar. Each team will play two home and two away matches in the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals, which will be played in a home-and-away format. The final will also follow the same format, with no third-place playoff.

Thailand currently leads the tournament's history with seven championships, having won in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2022. Singapore follows with four titles, while Vietnam has won three times in 2008, 2018, and 2024.