Levi Rothermund
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Group B of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Division 1 wraps up with Vietnam facing a Pakistan side that has little left to play for on paper, but everything to prove under Nolberto Solano. The former Newcastle midfielder took charge hoping to shake up a team that has now shipped six goals in two group games, and a response is overdue.
Kim Sang-sik’s Vietnam sit second in the table after a shock 0-2 defeat to group leaders Thailand, and a straightforward point separates them from a top finish. The interesting angle here is fitness and rotation: both coaches have already used their squads heavily across a tight three-match window, so bench depth could matter as much as raw quality on the pitch.
Watch for Nguyen Dinh Bac up top for Vietnam. He carries six shots and the team’s lone recorded goal from the last five outings, and his movement in behind troubled Malaysia earlier in the year. On the Pakistan side, Abdul Arshad has been their most productive attacker with a goal and a heavy workload of 176 minutes across the group stage, and he’ll need to be sharp against a Vietnamese back line that rarely panics.
Hot stat: Pakistan have conceded six goals in just two Group B matches, the worst defensive return of any side in the section, a number that should worry Solano more than anything else heading into this fixture.
| 🏆 Tournament: | FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Division 1, Group B |
| 🗓️ Date: | 02.10.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 11:00 CEST |
Vietnam vs Pakistan prediction
We predict Vietnam to win this one, and comfortably so. Vietnam’s 81% winrate across 16 matches this year dwarfs Pakistan’s 43% from just seven games, and the gap on the table (3 points against 1) tells the same story. Pakistan have leaked goals at an alarming rate, six in two matches, while Vietnam still boast a positive shot count of 23 against Pakistan’s 13 over the last five games apiece.
Vietnam’s own attack has looked blunt at times, scoring just once across their last five matches by our data, which is why we lean toward a controlled, low-margin win rather than a rout. Perhaps a 2-0 or 2-1 scoreline captures it best.
Style-wise, Pakistan have picked up more cards (2 yellows to Vietnam’s zero) and committed more fouls (21 against 14), a pattern that suggests a physical, disruptive approach from Solano’s men. Vietnam’s higher pass accuracy and corner count (9 against zero for Pakistan) point to a side that dominates territory and forces set-piece opportunities, which should tip the balance in a tight contest.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Vietnam win to nil |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
Vietnam’s last outing ended in a 0-2 defeat to Thailand, snapping a run of five straight wins or draws and exposing a real drop in cutting sharpness in front of goal. Before that they beat Philippines 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Thailand in an earlier meeting, so the group leaders remain the one side Kim’s team have struggled to solve consistently. In our preview of Thailand vs Vietnam we backed goals at both ends and a slight edge for Vietnam, and the 0-2 result went against us on every count, Vietnam neither scored nor won.
Pakistan’s most recent match was a 2-2 draw with Philippines, a result that kept their tournament hopes alive by the thinnest of margins. That followed a heavy 0-4 defeat to Thailand, continuing a wider slump that includes just one win from their last five competitive fixtures despite three straight victories earlier in the year against Afghanistan and Maldives. In our preview of Philippines vs Pakistan we called a low-scoring Philippines win with Pakistan failing to score, and the 2-2 result went against us, Pakistan not only scored twice but avoided defeat entirely.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
Vietnam and Pakistan have no recent competitive meetings on record between them, so there is no historical head-to-head pattern to lean on for this fixture. Both sides arrive with contrasting group form instead, and that recent data carries more weight here than any past encounter would.
🚨Check out our dedicated Vietnam vs Pakistan stats page for more info.
Pakistan. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Vietnam possible starting eleven
- GK: Patrik Le Giang
- DF: Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Cao Quang Vinh, Leygley Adou Minh
- MF: Trương Tiến Anh, Le Pham Thanh Long, Vo Hoang Minh Khoa, Nguyen Hai Long
- FW: Nguyen Dinh Bac, Lee Williams, Nguyễn Xuân Son
Kim Sang-sik should stick with the 3-4-3 shape that has served Vietnam well throughout the group stage. Le Giang has started every minute in goal, and the back three of Viet Anh, Quang Vinh and Adou Minh have logged full 180-minute shifts, showing the coach trusts this trio without rotation. Nguyen Dinh Bac remains the player to watch up front given his shot volume and the lone goal credited to him in this stretch.
Pakistan possible starting eleven
- GK: Yousuf Butt
- DF: Mohib Ullah, Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal
- MF: Ali Uzair, Hayyan Khattak, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Agha Hazara, Haris Zeb
- FW: Ali Khan, Abdul Arshad
Solano’s preferred 3-4-1-2 gives Haris Zeb the free attacking midfield role behind Ali Khan and Abdul Arshad, the two players carrying most of Pakistan’s attacking threat this tournament. Butt has started both group games and made six saves, underlining how much defensive work is being asked of him behind a back three that has looked shaky under pressure.
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Vietnam. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Our punters team backs Vietnam to see this fixture out and finish the group stage with a positive result. Pakistan’s defense has been porous all tournament, conceding six times in two matches, and Vietnam’s superior shot count and passing volume give them the tools to exploit that weakness even with their own attack looking a little rusty after the Thailand defeat. We predict a comfortable, low-scoring Vietnam win, most likely by a two-goal margin, with the corner count also favoring the home side given their territorial dominance in recent games. To be honest, Pakistan’s improved run earlier in the year offers a small case for resistance, but the recent slump under Solano makes that case hard to trust here.
