Vietnam hold the advantage, but Pakistan still have a chance

Vietnam have three points from two matches after beating the Philippines 1-0 and losing 0-2 to Thailand. Pakistan have one point, having suffered a 0-4 defeat by Thailand before fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Philippines.

The difference between the two teams is considerable on paper. Vietnam are ranked significantly higher than Pakistan in the FIFA rankings and have greater experience at the international level. They also have the advantage of needing only a draw to secure second place and advance to the third-place play-off.

Pakistan, by contrast, must win to keep their campaign alive. Their comeback against the Philippines, however, showed that they cannot be taken lightly. After trailing 0-2, Pakistan scored twice to earn a point and continued to press for a winner.

The result gave Pakistan renewed confidence ahead of their final group match, but it also underlined one of their weaknesses. They have struggled to maintain consistency across an entire game, something they will need to address against Vietnam.

For Vietnam, the key issue will be whether they can turn their superiority on paper into a more convincing performance on the pitch. The team scored only once in their opening two matches and failed to find the net against Thailand.

Kim Sang-sik wants more than just a place in the play-off

Despite having a safety net in the form of a draw, head coach Kim Sang-sik has made it clear that Vietnam are targeting victory.

The coach views the Pakistan game as an opportunity for his players to respond following their loss to Thailand, improve their performance and gain valuable experience. The match could also give him room to adjust his line-up and assess players who have had limited playing time.

Midfielder Hoang Duc is back in full training and is in contention to start after making a second-half appearance against Thailand. Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang has also returned to training after recovering from an elbow problem, although Kim still has to decide whether to use him or Tran Trung Kien.

The availability of key players gives Vietnam additional options as they look to improve their attacking play. Against Pakistan, the focus is likely to be on creating more chances and converting their opportunities more efficiently.

The match therefore carries different significance for the two teams. Vietnam are looking to secure their place in the third-place play-off while restoring confidence after the loss to Thailand. Pakistan, meanwhile, have no margin for error and need a win to keep their hopes alive.

Vietnam have the stronger position, greater experience and a substantial advantage in the FIFA rankings. Pakistan have the incentive of fighting for their survival and the confidence gained from their comeback against the Philippines.

The outcome will ultimately depend on whether Vietnam can impose their superior quality and whether Pakistan can reproduce the resilience they showed in their previous match.

The match will kick off at 4pm on October 2 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Vietnam's unbeaten run ends with 2-0 defeat to Thailand at FIFA ASEAN Cup

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s 27-match unbeaten run came to an end following a 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Thailand in a Group B fixture of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 on September 29 at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia.