Vietnam unbeaten in 20 consecutive ASEAN Cup group stage games

This remarkable run stretches back 12 years, with their last loss in the group stage occurring in 2012.

In that year, the team under coach Phan Thanh Hung began the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Myanmar, followed by losses to the Philippines (0-1) and Thailand (1-3), which saw them eliminated from the group stage. This marked the last time Vietnam failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Since then, Vietnam have played 20 group stage matches, winning 16 and drawing 4, scoring 47 goals while conceding just 6. They did not face Thailand in this period but played Malaysia four times.

Aside from the 2020 tournament, where Vietnam finished second, the team have consistently topped their group. Under coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam went unbeaten in the group stage of the AFF Cup for 12 matches, with a notable clean sheet streak that was broken by Laos in the 2024 ASEAN Cup opening match, when captain Bounphachan Bounkong scored a penalty.

This 20-match unbeaten streak is the longest in the team's history for the ASEAN Cup group stage, although it is not a regional record. Thailand hold the record with a 23-match unbeaten run dating back to the 2010 AFF Cup, when they lost 1-2 to Indonesia in the final round of the group stage and were eliminated. That was the last time Thailand failed to reach the semifinals.

Vietnam could match Thailand’s record of passing six consecutive group stage if coach Masatada Ishii’s side are eliminated early while coach Kim Sang-sik and the team progress.

Both teams are favorites to top the group, so it’s likely they won’t face each other until the final. If they meet again in the final, Vietnam will have a chance to avenge their defeat in the 2022 AFF Cup final, which was the last tournament under coach Park.

In the fourth round of the group stage, Thailand will visit Singapore on Tuesday, while Vietnam will play the Philippines in Manila a day later.