The Vietnam national football team has been penalized with a fine of $500 due to accumulating five yellow cards throughout the ASEAN Cup 2026. This fine comes despite the team's relatively fair play statistics, as they managed to secure the championship title while only receiving a total of five yellow cards during their matches.

According to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the Vietnam team played eight matches in this tournament, committing a total of 70 fouls, averaging 8.75 fouls per match. The yellow cards were issued to players Pham Xuan Manh, Dinh Bac, Nguyen Xuan Son, and Van Vi in various matches, including the group stage and knockout rounds.

Each yellow card incurs a penalty of $100, leading to the total fine of $500. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is expected to cover this cost on behalf of the players. Notably, after the group stage, Vietnam was recognized for having one of the best fair play records in the tournament, finishing first in Group A with 10 points from three wins and one draw, while receiving only one yellow card.

In the knockout stage, the team received four additional yellow cards, but overall, Coach Kim Sang-sik's squad demonstrated good emotional control and maintained a disciplined style of play. AFF statistics also highlighted that Nguyen Xuan Son was the player with the most fouls in the tournament, committing 15 fouls, which was one more than his closest competitor from Indonesia.

In contrast, the Thai national team, which lost to Vietnam in the finals, had a poorer fair play record, committing 85 fouls and receiving eight yellow cards throughout the tournament.

In addition to the fine, the Vietnam team has received substantial financial rewards for their victory in the ASEAN Cup 2026, totaling $620,000, including prize money and support fees from AFF. This amount is significantly higher than the $300,000 awarded for their previous championship win in 2024.

As the team prepares for future competitions, including the FIFA ASEAN Cup, it is crucial for players to manage their fouls and avoid further penalties.