The 2026 ASEAN Championship final was the final match of the 2026 ASEAN Championship, the 16th edition of the ASEAN Football Federation competition for men's national football teams. The match was contested over two legs on 22 and 26 August 2026, at venues pre-determined by Thailand and defending champions Vietnam. Vietnam secured their fourth championship overall and first back-to-back after winning 4–2 on aggregate.
Background
This was the twelfth ASEAN Championship final and fourth consecutive finals for Thailand, having won the 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022 finals, and lost in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2024 finals. For Vietnam, it was the sixth ASEAN Championship final and third consecutive finals having won in 2008, 2018 and 2024 finals, but lost in two 1998 and 2022 finals.
Both were the strongest-ranked AFF teams in the FIFA World Rankings; Thailand was ranked first in Southeast Asia at 94th while Vietnam ranked second, five places behind. This marked the first time that the finalists meet in three successive AFF Championship finals. Thailand had the second-highest win percentage in the ASEAN Championship finals with 64% while Vietnam had 60%. Thailand leads the all-time championship table with seven titles to their name while Vietnam, on the other hand, had only won three in 2008, 2018 and 2024. They have met in the final thrice prior: in 2008 when Vietnam won 3–2 on aggregate (won 2–1 in the first leg; and drew 1–1 in the second), 2022 when Thailand won by the same scoreline (2–2 draw in the first leg; and won 1–0 in the second), and most recently 2024 when Vietnam won 5–3 on aggregate (winning both legs 2–1 and 3–2, respectively). In all competitions since Vietnam's reintegration, Thailand won 18 meetings, Vietnam won only 5, and 8 matches ended in draws.
This final between the two countries is highly anticipated given their success, having won each AFF tournament since 2014.
Venues
The two stadiums chosen to host the 2026 ASEAN Championship finals were the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand and the Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. The first leg will be hosted at Rajamangala Stadium on 22 August, while the second leg will be played at Mỹ Đình Stadium on 26 August.
Rajamangala Stadium opened on 6 December 1998 and was built for the 1998 Asian Games, which was held in Thailand. With a capacity of 51,560 spectators, it is the home ground of Thailand national football team. It has hosted many international and regional sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup qualification, AFC Asian Cup, ASEAN Championship and Southeast Asian Games.
Mỹ Đình National Stadium was officially inaugurated on 2 September 2003, which coincided with the nation's Independence Day. It was constructed to serve the 2003 Southeast Asian Games hosted in Vietnam. With a capacity of 40,192, the stadium serves as a key national sports venue and is the main home stadium of the Vietnam national football team. Similarly, Mỹ Đình Stadium has also hosted many important international matches, multi-sport events as well as major cultural activities.
Route to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). RoundGroup B winnersGroup A winners4–3 3–1 (A)1–2 (H)4–02–0 (A)2–0 (H)
Matches First leg
GK 1 Kampol PathomakkakulRB 12Waris ChoolthongCB 2 Nattapong SayriyaCB 4 Manuel BihrLB 13Oussama Thiangkham CM 6 Sarach Yooyen (c)CM 7 Kakana Khamyok CM 21Chaiyaphon OttonRF 9 Yotsakorn Burapha CF 14Teerasak Poeiphimai LF 5 Seksan Ratree Substitutions:FW 25Patrik Gustavsson MF 17Picha Autra FW 18Jehhanafee Mamah DF 24Wanchai Jarunongkran MF 10Worachit Kanitsribumphen Manager: Anthony Hudson GK 1 Lê Giang PatrikCB 7 Phạm Xuân MạnhCB 16Nguyễn Thành Chung CB 5 Đoàn Văn HậuRWB15Trương Tiến AnhLWB3 Nguyễn Văn VĩRM 10Đỗ Hoàng Hên CM 8 Lê Phạm Thành Long CM 14Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (c)LM 9 Nguyễn Đình Bắc CF 12Nguyễn Xuân Son Substitutions:MF 19Nguyễn Quang Hải MF 18Nguyễn Hai Long MF 13Nguyễn Tài Lộc FW 22Nguyễn Trần Việt Cường Manager: Kim Sang-sik
Hyundai Player of the Match: Lê Giang Patrik (Vietnam)
Assistant referees: Hesham Al-Refaei (Saudi Arabia) Saad Al-Subaiee (Saudi Arabia) Fourth official: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia) Video assistant referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore) Assistant video assistant referee: Jin Jingyuan (China)
Second leg Pre-match Officiating On 23 August 2026, Ahmed Eisa Darwish of the United Arab Emirates was named as the referee for the second leg of the final, with fellow Emiratis Saeed Rashed Almarzooqi and Yaser Sabeil Almurshidi as assistant referees. Muhammad Taqi of Singapore were named as the fourth official. He had previously officiated the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Group H first matchday, 2024–25 AFC Challenge League semi-finals east and 2023–24 AFC Champions League Group F fourth matchday. He was also one of the referees at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. He became the first Emirati to referee a ASEAN Championship final.
Dignitaries in attendance FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström along with AFF president Khiev Sameth, VFF president Trần Quốc Tuấn and FAT president Nualphan Lamsam attended the second leg of the ASEAN Championship final. Vietnam's deputy prime minister Lê Tiến Châu and former prime minister Phạm Minh Chính was also in attendance.
Details
GK 1 Lê Giang PatrikCB 7 Phạm Xuân MạnhCB 16Nguyễn Thành ChungCB 5 Đoàn Văn HậuRM 15Trương Tiến AnhCM 8 Lê Phạm Thành Long CM 14Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (c) LM 3 Nguyễn Văn Vĩ RF 10Đỗ Hoàng Hên CF 12Nguyễn Xuân SonLF 9 Nguyễn Đình BắcSubstitutions:DF 24Phan Tuấn Tài MF 19Nguyễn Quang Hải MF 18Nguyễn Hai Long MF 13Nguyễn Tài Lộc Manager: Kim Sang-sik GK 20Chatchai BudpromRB 12Waris Choolthong CB 2 Nattapong SayriyaCB 4 Manuel BihrLB 13Oussama Thiangkham DM 6 Sarach Yooyen (c) RM 9 Yotsakorn Burapha CM 5 Seksan Ratree CM 7 Kakana KhamyokLM 21Chaiyaphon OttonCF 14Teerasak Poeiphimai Substitutions:FW 18Jehhanafee Mamah MF 19Pokklaw Anan MF 10Worachit Kanitsribumphen DF 24Wanchai Jarunongkran FW 25Patrik Gustavsson Manager: Anthony Hudson
Hyundai Player of the Match: Đỗ Hoàng Hên (Vietnam)
Assistant referees: Saeed Rashed Almarzooqi (United Arab Emirates) Yaser Sabeil Almurshidi (United Arab Emirates) Fourth official: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore) Video assistant referee: Jin Jingyuan (China) Assistant video assistant referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia) |} Vietnam won 4–2 on aggregate.
Entertainment A closing ceremony for the ASEAN Championship began at 19:40 Indochina Time (UTC+7), twenty minutes before the scheduled kick-off of the second leg of the final match. Tùng Dương performed both songs "Đường đến ngày vinh quang" (Road to Glory) by glam metal band Bức Tường and newly composed song, "Khát vọng vinh quang" (Hunger for Glory) by Tùng Dương and Nguyễn Văn Chung. Lê Công Vinh, who scored the goal that won Vietnam the 2008 AFF Championship, unveiled the ASEAN Championship trophy.
References
External links