The Asian Cup 2027 has been rescheduled for December 23, 2027 to January 21, 2028, according to a November 3 VFF announcement reporting the AFC decision. It replaces the previous January 7 to February 5, 2027 timetable.
A tournament spanning two calendar years
The VFF said the decision followed consultation with the local organising committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. The new window runs from late 2027 into the first month of 2028, changing the preparation horizon for participating teams.
Vietnam’s squad announcement on the same day identifies Nguyen Thanh Chung and Nguyen Van Vi as returning players. Patrik Le Giang retains the coaches’ confidence, while Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai are absent from this selection.
The federation considers the extra preparation time an opportunity for Kim Sang Sik to assess players, experiment and manage workloads. These are planning possibilities, rather than improvements already achieved because the schedule changed.
November work continues through Casper Cup
In another announcement on the same day, the VFF outlined a squad refresh featuring newcomers Luong Chi Khai, also known as Kyle Colonna, and Olaha Manh Duc. Younger players have opportunities while several familiar internationals are absent from this selection.
The Casper Cup runs from November 11 to 17, 2026 at Thien Truong, involving Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and Chinese Taipei. It provides an immediate setting to assess combinations and players' adaptation.
The next task is therefore to prepare for those friendlies while developing a longer-term programme around the revised continental dates. Readers can follow Vietnam national team fixtures for announced international commitments.