Kim Sang Sik accepted responsibility and apologised to supporters after Vietnam lost 1-0 to Malaysia and finished fourth at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. In his post-match comments published by the VFF, the coach cited limited preparation time and several players being below full fitness. He thanked the squad for its efforts in Jakarta's hot conditions. Kim said Vietnam would work to prepare more effectively for the 2027 Asian Cup, using this tournament to identify areas requiring improvement.