Thai football fans unanimously mention the Vietnam national team after the AFF Cup 2026 draw.

The AFF Cup 2026 draw results have made Thai supporters particularly focus on Vietnam, the defending champions and the region's strongest contender.

Following the AFF Cup 2026 draw, Vietnam was placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and the winner of the Brunei vs Timor-Leste playoff. As the reigning champions, coach Kim Sang Sik's team is considered to be in a “favorable” group, opening up significant opportunities in their quest to defend the Southeast Asian crown.

Meanwhile, Group B, which includes Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar, is predicted to be more unpredictable. Although there is no “group of death,” the uneven strength among teams has quickly shifted Thai fans’ attention toward Vietnam, whom they regard as the key benchmark for their AFF Cup 2026 championship ambitions.

On Thai football forums, many fans openly mentioned Vietnam right after the draw ceremony. One comment stated: “The Vietnam vs Indonesia match will be exciting, serving as a test to see which team is currently in better form. Thailand faces their old rival ‘Golden Tigers’ Malaysia, and the Philippines have also made great progress.”

Several Thai fans expressed realism about their team’s ambitions. One notable comment read: “Well, just try your best; beating Vietnam would be the greatest achievement.” This reflects how Vietnam’s current status has become a clear point of comparison in the region.

Additionally, the AFF Cup remains a primary target for Thai football. One supporter emphasized: “This tournament is our federation’s main goal, second only to the SEA Games.” However, the worry of facing Vietnam early is also clearly present in fans’ minds.

Some even expressed relief that the two teams are not in the same group: “Anything is fine, as long as we don’t share a group with Vietnam; otherwise, Thailand will be eliminated again.” Nevertheless, there are encouraging messages too: “Come on Thailand, bring the championship trophy home!”

Vietnam enters AFF Cup 2026 carrying the title of ASEAN Cup 2024 champions, where Xuan Son and his teammates defeated Thailand 3-2 at Rajamangala Stadium in the second leg of the final, winning 5-3 on aggregate. This achievement has made Vietnam’s name frequently mentioned by Thai fans after the draw.

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