Vietnam Stands Tall as Southeast Asian Rivals Falter in AFF Cup

The upcoming AFF Cup is shaping up to be a unique tournament with traditional powerhouses like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia fielding significantly weakened squads. This absence of star players, stemming from the timing of the competition and club-level demands, has created an opportunity for Vietnam to emerge as a dominant force.

"One of the main reasons why Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are not calling up top players for the AFF Cup 2024 is because this tournament is too long and is not included in FIFA Days schedule," explains Nguyen Van Phuong, a Vietnamese football analyst. "Especially, Vietnam’s players are not playing abroad and the V-League agreed to suspend for more than a month so that coach Kim Sang-sik and his team could train in Korea and participate in the tournament."

The issue lies in the AFF Cup’s scheduling, which clashes with domestic leagues in Southeast Asia. Unlike major tournaments like the World Cup or Copa America, held during international breaks when clubs are obligated to release players, the AFF Cup runs through December, a peak period for club competitions.

This presents a dilemma for Southeast Asian clubs, who are often reluctant to release key players for an extended period. The situation is further complicated by the lack of FIFA recognition for the tournament, meaning clubs are not bound to allow players to participate.

"The Football Federation of Malaysia (FAM) admitted after announcing the list with more than half of it new faces: ‘This is the best choice the Malaysian team can make given the challenges of the AFF Cup 2024, when the tournament is not on the schedule of international FIFA,’ " Phuong adds. "During this time, the national competition of Malaysia continues, so the call of players will be very complicated and difficult."

As a result, several contenders will be fielding vastly inexperienced lineups. Indonesia, for example, will primarily rely on their U-22 team, while Malaysia is forced to include a large portion of new faces in their squad. The impact is clear: the level of competition is likely to be affected, and the quality of play might not reach the usual standards.

Against this backdrop, Vietnam emerges as a strong contender. With their domestic league suspended specifically for the AFF Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik has assembled a full-strength squad.

"We will reach the final of the AFF Cup 2024," confidently declared Sang-sik. "This is the expectation of the fans of Vietnam, from the whole team and from ourselves."

The Vietnamese team, capitalizing on its complete squad and dedicated preparation time, will aim to take advantage of their rivals’ weakened positions. They kick off their campaign against Laos on December 9th, followed by a home clash against Indonesia on December 15th. Their ambition is clear: to not only compete, but to claim the AFF Cup title.