The Vietnam national team demonstrated a positive trend in their preparations for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. During their training camp in South Korea, the squad coached by Kim Sang-sik successfully defeated Yongin FC 2-1 thanks to goals from Hai Long and Xuan Son. This match was crucial for the head coach to refine tactics before Vietnam plays its opening match against Timor-Leste in Thailand on July 24.
Similar preparations were made by other ASEAN Cup contestants. Myanmar officially introduced Norwegian coach Jorn Andersen, who will make his debut against Vietnam on July 18. Meanwhile, Thailand opted for a rotation strategy by excluding star players playing abroad, whereas Cambodia bolstered its squad by calling up several naturalized players, including Uzbekistan-born Alisher Mirzaev.
On the international football stage, the global hierarchy officially shifted. France now occupies the top spot in the FIFA world rankings, displacing Argentina, which had previously dominated the position. On another note, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) lodged a strong protest with FIFA regarding the refereeing in their 2026 World Cup round of 16 match, which ended in a loss to Argentina.
Beyond football, developments in other sports were also prominent. Vietnamese martial artist Duong Thuy Vi successfully won a gold medal at the 2026 Taolu World Cup in Haikou, China. Meanwhile, in world tennis, Novak Djokovic made history by winning the longest quarter-final match in Wimbledon history after battling for five hours and 15 minutes.
