Vietnam and Singapore Secure Opening Wins in 2026 ASEAN Championship

The 2026 ASEAN Championship kicked off with an action-packed opening day in Group A, as regional powerhouses Vietnam and Singapore both secured crucial victories to launch their tournament campaigns.

Defending champions Vietnam made a resounding statement with a dominant 7-0 victory over qualification-winners Timor-Leste. The Golden Star Warriors showcased their attacking depth, with naturalized forward Hendrio Araujo and rising star Nguyen Dinh Bac both netting impressive braces. Rafaelson and playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai also joined the scoresheet, sealing a flawless performance that firmly establishes Vietnam as the team to beat in this edition.

Meanwhile, Singapore endured a far more nerve-wracking encounter to escape with maximum points against a resilient Cambodia side. The Lions took an early lead but were forced to reset after Cambodia struck back to equalize. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, striker Ilhan Fandi became the hero, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner to hand Singapore a hard-fought 2-1 triumph.

With Vietnam and Singapore taking the early initiative in Group A, attention now shifts to Group B, where rivals Thailand and Malaysia look to mirror these winning starts.