If AFC penalizes Malaysia with a loss, Coach Kim Sang Sik will benefit greatly.

AFC's ruling on Malaysia could soon decide the Asian Cup ticket, thus creating new possibilities for Coach Kim Sang Sik regarding the Vietnam national team.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is reportedly set to soon announce disciplinary decisions concerning the Malaysian national team after reviewing rulings from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the player naturalization scandal. This move not only impacts the standings of Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers but also directly affects the preparation plans of the Vietnam national team during the FIFA Days at the end of March.

According to many expert analyses, the most likely scenario is AFC canceling Malaysia's win results against Nepal and the Vietnam national team. If that happens, Malaysia could be handed a 0-3 loss in both matches for using players who were not eligible to compete. This is a common disciplinary measure in cases of violating player eligibility regulations in international tournaments. Specifically, this ruling would not only secure the Asian Cup qualification ticket but could also allow Coach Kim Sang Sik to freely implement personnel plans for the Vietnam national team.

If the results are adjusted, the Vietnam national team would gain an additional 3 points from the match against Malaysia, raising their total points to 15. The 6-point gap with Malaysia (after the opponent loses 6 points) ensures Coach Kim Sang Sik's team secures a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

This scenario holds significant importance for the coaching staff of the Vietnam national team. If the group standings are decided early, Coach Kim Sang Sik would no longer be forced to aim for points in upcoming matches. Instead, the Korean strategist could be more proactive in building personnel plans and testing tactics.

One considered option is to continue using the strongest squad to aim for a convincing victory against Malaysia. This would be an opportunity for the Vietnam national team to assert its regional status and regain confidence after past unsatisfactory results.

However, the long-term strategic option is the more noteworthy point. When the finals qualification ticket is almost secured, Coach Kim Sang Sik could boldly give opportunities to many young players and new faces.Testing the lineup in official matches will help the coaching staff accurately evaluate each player's capabilities.

This is also seen as a necessary preparatory step for Vietnam football's longer-term goals. Young talents, if tested early, could become the next generation for future major tournaments, especially the 2026 AFF Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Therefore, AFC's upcoming ruling is not only about points or group rankings. More importantly, it could open an opportunity for the Vietnam national team to be more proactive in building its squad and shaping the core framework for the long journey ahead, aiming for further goals in the future.