Vietnam vs. Thailand Preview: 2024 AFF Cup Final First Leg (Jan 2, 2025)
The first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final is set to kick off at 8:00 PM on January 2, 2025, as the Vietnam national team hosts Thailand at Việt Trì Stadium in Phú Thọ Province, Vietnam. The second leg will follow on January 5, 2025, also at 8:00 PM, with Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team traveling to Thailand’s iconic Rajamangala Stadium. This highly anticipated showdown between Vietnam and Thailand is widely regarded as a dream final in this prestigious regional tournament. The two teams share a storied rivalry and have consistently been among Southeast Asia’s top contenders.
A Clash of Southeast Asian Football Giants
By advancing to the final, Vietnam and Thailand have proven themselves as the most deserving teams of the tournament. Over the past five years, they have consistently held the highest FIFA rankings in Southeast Asia, solidifying their dominance. Both teams concluded 2024 as the top-ranked squads in the region.
In terms of squad depth and quality, Vietnam and Thailand brought formidable lineups to the 2024 ASEAN Cup, unlike Malaysia and Indonesia, who faced significant absences. Thailand is missing a few key players, including Chanathip, Kritsada, and Supachai, while Vietnam has been able to field a nearly full-strength roster.
Historically, Vietnam and Thailand have formed the most frequent finals pairing in the tournament’s modern era. Since 2004, when the home-and-away format for knockout rounds was introduced, these two powerhouses have clashed in the final three times: in 2008, 2022, and 2024.
Given this rich history and the high stakes, the Vietnam vs. Thailand final is undeniably a Southeast Asian derby that fans across the region have been eagerly awaiting.
Injury Updates for Both Teams
The Thai national team secured their place in the final after a grueling 120-minute battle at home. However, the victory came at a cost. Midfielder Weerathep was stretchered off the field, and forward Patrik Gustavsson showed signs of limping after being substituted earlier. Coach Masatada Ishii expressed his concern, saying, “The Thai national team has only two days to prepare for the final, not to mention a few players are dealing with injuries. This is an unfortunate situation for Thailand.”
On the Vietnamese side, several players have also struggled with fitness and injuries during the 2024 ASEAN Cup campaign. In the second leg of the semifinal against Singapore at Việt Trì Stadium, Văn Thanh, Xuân Mạnh, and Tấn Tài all left the field due to injuries. Fortunately, Văn Thanh and Xuân Mạnh were later diagnosed with only minor muscle strains.
However, Hồ Tấn Tài sustained a bruise to his anterior cruciate ligament and will need 6-8 weeks to recover, ruling him out of the final. Similarly, forward Nguyễn Văn Toàn had to withdraw earlier in the tournament due to a medial collateral ligament injury suffered during the group-stage match against Myanmar. He will require at least four weeks to recover.
During training sessions, other players such as Hai Long, Quang Hải, and Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh experienced minor discomforts but have since recovered fully and are back in action.
Expected Lineups:
Vietnam: Nguyễn Filip, Văn Thanh, Tiến Dũng, Việt Anh, Thành Chung, Văn Vĩ, Hoàng Đức, Quang Hải, Ngọc Tân, Tuấn Hải, Nguyen Xuan Son.
Thailand: Patiwat, Khamdee, Auksornsri, Promsupa, Pumwisat, Pomphan, Chamratsamee, Bureerat, Supachok, Suphanat, Patrik.
Predicted Score: 2-1