Vietnam's national team faces a major disadvantage ahead of the AFF Cup due to one reason

The Vietnam national team could face fitness issues because numerous CAHN club players are required to compete continuously during the 2026 AFF Cup and AFC Champions League Elite.

The prospect of the Vietnam national team missing several key players from Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) at the 2026 AFF Cup had worried experts, given that this club is participating in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite play-off. However, the actual schedule shows that the two tournaments do not directly overlap, but rather primarily pose challenges regarding match density and player fitness.

According to the plan, CAHN will play the play-off match against Adelaide United (Australia) on August 11 at Hindmarsh Stadium, aiming to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage. Meanwhile, the 2026 AFF Cup is scheduled to take place from late July to early August, finishing the group stage on August 7 before a break to enter the semifinals.

This means that CAHN-affiliated players can still complete the AFF Cup group stage with the Vietnam national team before returning to their club for the important match in the Asian competition. Thus, in terms of direct playing time, there is no conflict that forces them to choose one tournament.

Although the schedules do not fully overlap, the biggest issue lies in physical fitness. Having to play continuously in two high-intensity fronts puts key players such as Quang Hải, Filip Nguyễn, Việt Anh, Văn Hậu, Thành Long, and Đình Bắc at risk of overload if not rotated properly.

In this context, coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnam national team coaching staff will have to carefully calculate the allocation of playing time to ensure players are in top condition during the crucial phase of the 2026 AFF Cup. This is considered a decisive factor for the team's ability to defend their title.

Overall, the current schedule still offers relative convenience as it does not create direct conflicts between club and national team. However, challenges related to fitness, travel, and the dense match rhythm will still be significant factors, forcing both CAHN and the Vietnam national team to coordinate closely to optimize their squad.