Coach Kim Sang Sik returns to South Korea after father's death

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has confirmed that national team head coach Kim Sang Sik has returned to South Korea to attend to his father's funeral. He is expected to return to Vietnam in about a week, in time to prepare for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. Vietnam national team coach Kim Sang Sik has temporarily set aside his work to return to his homeland of South Korea after his father passed away. The information was confirmed by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on August 20, 2026. Accordingly, Coach Kim's father, Mr. Kim, passed away at the age of 84 after a period of illness. VFF has sent deep condolences to Coach Kim and his family, and has facilitated his return to mourn. VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan shared his sympathy: "We are extremely saddened by the news. Coach Kim Sang Sik is a devoted son and has always given his all for Vietnamese football. We hope he and his family can soon overcome this great loss. VFF will always stand by and support him during this difficult time." He also added that VFF encouraged Coach Kim to return to South Korea as soon as they received the news, and all work with the national team will be maintained by the coaching staff and assistants. Coach Kim Sang Sik was appointed to lead the Vietnam national team in May 2026. Over the past two years, he has left a strong mark by leading both the U23 and national teams to impressive achievements in regional and continental tournaments. Notably, at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, he helped Vietnam reach the semi-finals, and in the 2026 AFC U23 qualifiers, the Vietnam U23 team secured a spot in the finals. His dedicated, professional, and approachable working style is highly appreciated. Coach Kim's return this time comes as the Vietnam national team enters the final preparation phase for the 2026 ASEAN Cup, which will take place from September 24 to October 5, 2026. According to the schedule, the team will have about a month of training and friendly matches before the tournament. Coach Kim's absence of about a week is considered not too serious, but it does pose some challenges for preparation. During Coach Kim's absence, the assistant coaches, led by assistant Nguyen Van Dan, will temporarily run the training sessions. VFF stated that all lesson plans and training schedules have been agreed upon by Coach Kim and the coaching staff in advance, so the sessions will still proceed as planned. However, the absence of the head coach in tactical training sessions may slightly affect the communication of ideas and flexible tactical adjustments. The Vietnam national team is in Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup along with opponents Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. This is considered a highly competitive group as Thailand is a traditional rival and always highly rated. The match between Vietnam and Thailand is expected to decide the top spot. Meanwhile, the Philippines and Pakistan are considered weaker but cannot be underestimated. The minimum goal for Vietnam is to advance from the group stage, and fans expect a place in the semi-finals. In terms of personnel, the Vietnam national team currently has good preparation. Key players such as Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc, along with talented young players like Nguyen Dinh Bac and Khuat Van Khang, are all in high form. Coach Kim is believed to have the strongest squad at his disposal and is in the process of testing the optimal lineup. His late return may affect the finalization of the official squad, but team leadership affirms there are no major issues. In the past, Coach Kim Sang Sik has faced similar personal difficulties. In 2026, when his mother passed away, he also returned to South Korea and then came back to Vietnam to continue his work. This experience helps him quickly stabilize mentally and refocus on the upcoming task. The coaching staff and players have all expressed sympathy and encouragement. The reaction of Vietnamese fans on social media has been largely positive and sympathetic. Many fans have sent messages of encouragement to Coach Kim and his family, expressing their wish for his early return to lead the team. Vietnamese media have also reported with a sympathetic attitude, not focusing on professional matters at this time. This shows maturity in the public's and media's handling of personal matters concerning the coach. Nevertheless, some opinions worry that the disruption in the final phase could affect the team's preparation, especially in important tactical sessions. However, with his extensive experience, Coach Kim is expected to quickly get back up to speed upon his return. Moreover, his assistants are capable and have worked with him for a long time, understanding his philosophy and methods. Regarding VFF, they have made preparations for this situation. Before Coach Kim departed, VFF met and agreed on the training plan, and assigned specific tasks to each member of the coaching staff. Training sessions continue daily with high intensity, focusing on physical, tactical, and opposition exercises. Players are required to maintain their spirit and professionalism while the head coach is away. In addition, VFF has also planned friendly matches in the coming time. The team is expected to have two international friendlies in early September to build psychological momentum and test the lineup before the tournament. The opponents chosen are of equivalent or lower level to ensure safety in terms of results, but still provide adequate competition. Coach Kim will have nearly two weeks to prepare for the first match at the 2026 ASEAN Cup. On personnel matters, Coach Kim is likely to call up about 25 players for the 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign. The preliminary list has been planned by him and the coaching staff in advance. The announcement of the official list may be delayed until his return, but this does not affect the overall progress. The called-up players are currently gathering at the National Football Center in Hanoi. Coach Kim's absence also raises questions about the role of the assistants, especially those in important roles such as tactical assistant and fitness assistant. They will have to ensure that training sessions take place as planned and achieve the set objectives. This is also an opportunity for the assistants to prove their capabilities during this difficult period. From a psychological perspective, the head coach having to leave during an important period may affect the players' morale. However, with their trained professionalism, the Vietnamese players are expected to maintain focus and high determination. The coaching staff has also held meetings to encourage the team's spirit, emphasizing that each individual needs to promote personal responsibility for the common goal. As for the fans, they are showing strong support for Coach Kim and the team. Fan groups have launched campaigns to send condolences and encouragement to him. Many expressed their wish for the team to win the 2026 ASEAN Cup as a spiritual gift for Coach Kim and his family. This is a great source of mental encouragement for Coach Kim personally and the team in general. It is expected that Coach Kim Sang Sik will return to Vietnam this weekend, after completing necessary procedures and settling his family. He will immediately get to work with meetings and training sessions with the team. VFF affirms it will create the best conditions for him to focus fully on the upcoming task. All eyes are on the 2026 ASEAN Cup, where the Vietnam national team is expected to bring glory to the nation's football. Immediately, on September 24, the Vietnam national team will play their opening match against the Philippines. This is an important match for a good start. Fans hope that despite off-field disruptions, Coach Kim's team will still demonstrate the courage and strength of Vietnamese football. Everyone is waiting for the day he returns and together with the team writes a new chapter.