The Vietnam national football team not only claimed their third ASEAN Cup (AFF Cup) championship but also shattered multiple records in the process.

Vietnam triumphed over Thailand with a 3-2 victory at the iconic Rajamangala Stadium, securing the 2024 ASEAN Cup title with an aggregate score of 5-3 after two legs.

This remarkable feat made the "Golden Star Warriors" the first team in tournament history to defeat Thailand in both legs of the final. The loss marked an unprecedented setback for the "War Elephants" in an ASEAN championship final.

Record-breaking achievements in ASEAN Cup history

Under coach Kim Sang Sik’s leadership, Vietnam achieved a perfect streak of seven wins in a single ASEAN Cup campaign - an accomplishment unmatched in the tournament’s 29-year history, even by Thailand.

Finishing the competition unbeaten with seven wins and one draw, the team demonstrated dominance with an impressive goal difference of +15, scoring 21 goals while conceding only six. This broke their own record of +13, set in 2022.

Central to Vietnam’s success was Nguyen Xuan Son, a shining star throughout the tournament. In his first official campaign in the red jersey, Xuan Son netted seven goals, earning the Golden Boot. This was the first time a Vietnamese player had won the award outright.

Despite missing the first three matches, Xuan Son outperformed all competitors, showcasing his exceptional talent. Alongside Tien Linh, the duo became the first Vietnamese players to score at least four goals each in a single AFF Cup.

Vietnam also equaled Singapore’s record of defeating Thailand in two AFF Cup finals, having previously beaten them in 2008. Singapore achieved this feat in 2007 and 2012.

Adding to their accolades, Vietnam became the only team in AFF Cup history to claim victory twice at Thailand's home stadium, a milestone no other team has reached.

Thien Binh