Vietnam's head coach Kim Sang Sik has expressed confidence as his team prepares to face Timor-Leste in their opening match of the ASEAN Cup 2026 on July 24. As the defending champions, Vietnam aims to secure a strong start in the tournament and retain their title.

At a pre-match press conference, Kim emphasized the importance of the opening match, stating, "First of all, I feel very honored that Vietnam are taking part in ASEAN Cup 2026 as the defending champions. We have prepared thoroughly with the goal of winning the tournament, and we are fully confident that we can do that." He noted that the players are ready to convert any pressure into confidence as they strive for victory.

Kim highlighted the need for a well-organized defense against Timor-Leste, who have brought many young players to the tournament. He mentioned, "We have analyzed them a great deal. They move well and cover a lot of ground on the pitch. If we exploit their weaknesses effectively, we can score plenty of goals and win the match."

On the other hand, Timor-Leste's head coach Jose Pedro is looking to surprise Vietnam with a style inspired by World Cup champions Spain. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the defending champions and stated, "We respect Vietnam. They are the defending champions, and their three naturalized players significantly improve their attack quality."

Pedro emphasized Timor-Leste's collective spirit, saying, "Our greatest strength is our unity. We operate as one unit rather than relying on any individual." He aims to instill a possession-based style of play in his team, which he believes will help them create opportunities against strong opponents like Vietnam.

The match is set to kick off at 8:30 p.m. in Chonburi, Thailand, and both teams are eager to make a significant impact in the tournament.