Indonesian newspaper praises Vietnam's record, asserts that ASEAN Cup 2026 will have no new champion

As reported by Indonesia's Superball, Vietnam and Thailand have achieved a milestone by qualifying for the semifinals of the ASEAN Cup in five straight tournaments starting from 2018.

"Vietnam and Thailand continue to assert their top status in Southeast Asia as they both secured spots in this year's ASEAN Cup semifinals, now renamed the ASEAN Cup 2026. Besides competing for the title, the two teams have also reached a special milestone: they have made the semifinals for the fifth consecutive time since the tournament format changed in 2018. Since the 2018 ASEAN Cup, Vietnam and Thailand have never missed the semifinals," wrote the Indonesian newspaper.

Superball emphasized: "This achievement reflects the remarkable stability of the two leading football nations in the region, especially as the tournament always features opponents who have made significant progress."

In the last five editions, both Vietnam and Thailand have maintained their competitive edge and frequently advanced deep into the tournament. According to Superball, besides holding the record for consecutive semifinal appearances, Vietnam and Thailand also boast impressive records in finals. Each team has reached the final three times and won the championship twice.

"These numbers partly reflect the dominance of the two teams in regional tournaments in recent years. Behind Vietnam and Thailand are Malaysia and Singapore, both with three semifinal appearances. Malaysia once reached the final but lost to Vietnam in 2018," the newspaper Superball added.

Meanwhile, Singapore, despite multiple semifinal appearances, has not reached the final since the new format was introduced.

Indonesia has reached the semifinals twice and the final once, finishing as runners-up after losing to Thailand in the 2020 ASEAN Cup. The Philippines has also made the semifinals twice but has never advanced to the final.

Superball believes that with both teams in the semifinals of ASEAN Cup 2026, Vietnam and Thailand once again demonstrate a significant gap compared to other teams in the region. Not only have they maintained a streak of five consecutive semifinal appearances, but they are also aiming to set up a familiar showdown in the final. If they continue to win the title, Vietnam or Thailand will extend their dominance in Southeast Asia's premier football tournament.

Superball points out that since all four teams in this year's semifinals have previously won the ASEAN Cup, it is certain that the tournament will not see a new champion. The Indonesian newspaper stated: "It will be interesting to see which team lifts the championship trophy this year."