Vietnam began their 2026 ASEAN Championship campaign with a confident 3-1 victory over Cambodia on August 7, 2026, showing both attacking fluency and defensive resilience in a lively group-stage clash.

In front of a packed crowd at the 21:00 kickoff, Vietnam took control early and never relinquished it. The result gives the Southeast Asian giants a perfect start to the tournament and sends an early warning to their rivals, while Cambodia left the field with positives despite the defeat.

First Half: Vietnam Take Charge

Vietnam pressed high from the first minute and created their first clear chance inside ten minutes. It was no surprise when the opener arrived in the 14th minute. A patient build-up down the right flank ended with a low cross into the box, and the unmarked striker made no mistake with a first-time finish past the Cambodia goalkeeper.

The visitors struggled to cope with Vietnam's quick interchange and movement off the ball. Cambodia managed to hold their shape for long spells, but Vietnam's persistence paid off again before halftime. A well-worked corner routine left the defense exposed, and a powerful header from the centre-back doubled the lead in the 38th minute. At 2-0, Vietnam looked comfortable, although Cambodia did create one dangerous counter-attack that was snuffed out by a timely last-ditch tackle.

Cambodia Push Back, Vietnam Seal It

Cambodia came out with renewed energy after the interval. Their efforts were rewarded in the 54th minute when a quick break down the left forced a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the area. The Cambodian captain stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

The goal briefly raised the visitors' confidence, and Vietnam had to weather a spell of sustained pressure. But the tournament favourites responded well, restoring their two-goal cushion just after the hour mark with a clever finish after a defence-splitting through-ball. From that point, Vietnam managed the game with experience, controlling possession and seeing out the match without any further scares.

Key Talking Points

• Clinical finishing: Vietnam converted three of their main chances, showcasing the kind of efficiency required to win the ASEAN Championship.
• Cambodia's resilience: Even in defeat, Cambodia showed character by refusing to drop their heads and fighting back to make the scoreline respectable.
• Tournament opener: A winning start is vital in the group stage, and Vietnam have set the tone with a strong all-round display.

What This Means for the Group

Vietnam now sit at the top of their group standings with three points and a positive goal difference, making them the early favourites to advance. Cambodia, meanwhile, will look to learn from this performance while knowing they must pick up points in their next fixtures to stay in contention. The 3-1 result gives Vietnam the ideal launchpad for the rest of the 2026 ASEAN Championship.