JAKARTA, Indonesia, October 2, 2026: Pakistan reached halftime leading Vietnam 1-0.
For 45 minutes, the lowest-ranked team in FIFA ASEAN Cup Division 1 looked capable of producing the biggest result of its tournament.
Then Vietnam changed the game.
Nguyễn Hải Long equalized five minutes after the restart.
Story at a glance
FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group B Final-Day Results
Official match details are available through FIFA’s match centers for Vietnam vs Pakistan and Thailand vs Philippines.
Pakistan Start With Courage and Lead Vietnam at Halftime
Pakistan’s first half was one of their strongest passages of the tournament.
Mohib Ullah Gives Pakistan the Belief They Needed
Mohib’s goal was more than a breakthrough.
Vietnam’s Halftime Change Turns the Match
Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik changed personnel and tempo at halftime.
Star Performer Phan Tuan Tai Changes Vietnam’s Attack
Tuan Tai deserves special attention because his introduction changed the game.
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức put the ASEAN champions ahead seven minutes later.
Nguyễn Đình Bắc added a third.
Pakistan pulled one back late, but Williams Minh Hoang restored Vietnam’s two-goal cushion in stoppage time.
Vietnam won 4-2 and secured second place in Group B.
At the same time in Bandung, the Philippines produced a major result of their own.
Bjorn Kristensen scored twice as the Philippines beat already-qualified Thailand 2-1.
The win took the Philippines to four points.
It still was not enough.
Vietnam’s victory moved them to six points and sent them into the bronze final against Malaysia.
Thailand had already secured first place before kickoff and will face Indonesia in the championship final.
Pakistan finish fourth with one point.
The table does not flatter them.
Their tournament performance does.
Pakistan entered the competition ranked No. 198 and faced Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, all ranked significantly higher. They scored four goals across three matches, came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Philippines, and led Vietnam 1-0 at halftime before the ASEAN champions’ quality eventually told.
For a team trying to build competitive credibility, those details matter.
The Sports Encounter’s FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 tournament guide identified Pakistan’s group as one of the hardest assignments in the competition.
The final week proved exactly why.
TL;DR
- Vietnam beat Pakistan 4-2 in Jakarta.
- Pakistan led 1-0 at halftime through Mohib Ullah.
- Nguyễn Hải Long equalized in the 50th minute.
- Nguyễn Hoàng Đức made it 2-1 in the 57th.
- Nguyễn Đình Bắc scored Vietnam’s third in the 80th.
- Pakistan pulled one back in the 88th minute.
- Williams Minh Hoang scored in stoppage time to make it 4-2.
- Philippines beat Thailand 2-1 in Bandung.
- Bjorn Kristensen scored both Philippines goals.
- Thailand’s goal came through Iklas Sanron.
- Thailand had already qualified for the final before kickoff.
- Vietnam finish second in Group B with six points.
- Philippines finish third with four points.
- Pakistan finish fourth with one point.
- Thailand finish first with six points and a superior head-to-head position over Vietnam.
- Thailand will play Indonesia in the final.
- Vietnam will play Malaysia in the bronze final.
- Both matches are scheduled for October 5 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
- Bronze match kickoff: 4:00 p.m. WIB.
- Final kickoff: 8:00 p.m. WIB.
FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group B Final-Day Results
| Match | Result | Main consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam vs Pakistan | Vietnam 4-2 Pakistan | Vietnam finish second and reach bronze final |
| Thailand vs Philippines | Thailand 1-2 Philippines | Philippines win but finish third |
Official match details are available through FIFA’s match centers for Vietnam vs Pakistan and Thailand vs Philippines.
Pakistan Start With Courage and Lead Vietnam at Halftime
Pakistan’s first half was one of their strongest passages of the tournament.
They did not simply sit deep and hope.
They pressed Vietnam’s buildup.
They competed physically.
They attacked space when the opportunity appeared.
The reward came in the 31st minute.
Vietnam lost possession.
Their defensive structure broke.
Mohib Ullah capitalized and finished the chance to put Pakistan ahead.
For the remainder of the half, Pakistan protected the lead with discipline.
Vietnam had possession and territorial control.
Pakistan had the scoreboard.
At halftime, the Falcons led 1-0.
For a side ranked 198th and facing a team sitting almost 100 places higher, it was a significant moment.
Mohib Ullah Gives Pakistan the Belief They Needed
Mohib’s goal was more than a breakthrough.
It validated Pakistan’s first-half approach.
Rather than dropping deeper after scoring, they continued contesting midfield and looking for transitions.
Vietnam’s defenders appeared uncomfortable whenever Pakistan attacked quickly.
That kept the match competitive.
The problem came after halftime.
Vietnam adjusted.
Pakistan did not adjust quickly enough to the adjustment.
Vietnam’s Halftime Change Turns the Match
Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik changed personnel and tempo at halftime.
The effect was immediate.
Phan Tuan Tai entered and began influencing the left side.
Within five minutes, Vietnam were level.
Tuan Tai released Nguyễn Hải Long.
Hai Long cut inside and finished past Yousuf Butt.
1-1.
That goal changed the emotional balance.
Pakistan had spent 45 minutes building confidence.
Vietnam erased the lead almost immediately.
Star Performer Phan Tuan Tai Changes Vietnam’s Attack
Tuan Tai deserves special attention because his introduction changed the game.
He created the equalizer.
Later, his long passing helped release Nguyễn Đình Bắc for the third goal.
Vietnam had struggled to open Pakistan cleanly in the first half.
After Tuan Tai entered, the angles improved.
The ball moved forward faster.
Pakistan’s defensive line began retreating.
Vietnam finally found the space they had been searching for.
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức Puts Vietnam Ahead
Seven minutes after the equalizer, Vietnam completed the turnaround.
Đình Bắc carried the ball down the left.
He delayed the pass.
Then cut it back for Hoàng Đức.
The midfielder struck first time from outside the area.
2-1.
The speed of the turnaround was decisive.
Pakistan had barely recovered from the equalizer.
Vietnam immediately scored again.
This was the point where the match changed from an upset attempt into a test of Pakistan’s resilience.
Pakistan Keep Attacking After Falling Behind
To their credit, Pakistan did not collapse after conceding twice.
They continued looking for a second goal.
Ali Khan and Umar Nawaz both found moments in advanced areas.
Vietnam’s defenders had to make several important interventions.
That is one reason the 4-2 scoreline should not be read as a routine defeat.
Pakistan remained competitive well into the second half.
The difference was Vietnam’s ability to turn half-chances into goals.
Nguyễn Đình Bắc Delivers the Goal That Gives Vietnam Control
Đình Bắc had already created the second goal.
In the 80th minute, he scored the third himself.
Tuan Tai sent another accurate long pass forward.
Đình Bắc raced into space and finished past Yousuf Butt.
3-1.
That goal effectively secured Vietnam’s second-place finish.
Pakistan now needed two goals just to level the match.
The physical cost of chasing Vietnam began to show.
Pakistan Pull One Back in the 88th Minute
Pakistan still refused to stop.
They reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 88th minute after another attacking move caused problems inside Vietnam’s penalty area.
For a brief moment, the match became tense again.
A draw would not have taken Pakistan into the bronze final, but another goal would have denied Vietnam the win and opened the door for the Philippines.
Vietnam suddenly had reason to worry.
Williams Minh Hoang Ends the Threat
The response came almost immediately.
In stoppage time, Williams Minh Hoang finished a through ball with his left foot.
4-2.
The 19-year-old’s first international goal removed all doubt.
Vietnam had the victory.
They had second place.
They had the bronze-final ticket.
Pakistan’s final push had been extinguished.
Vietnam Show the Difference Between Good Teams and Developing Teams
Pakistan competed.
Vietnam finished.
That distinction defined the match.
Pakistan’s first half was disciplined and aggressive.
Vietnam’s second half was ruthless.
The ASEAN champions responded to adversity with tactical changes and quality in decisive areas.
Hai Long scored.
Hoàng Đức scored.
Đình Bắc scored.
Minh Hoang scored.
Four different attacking contributors changed the game.
That depth was one of Vietnam’s biggest advantages.
Philippines 2-1 Thailand: Kristensen Punishes a Rotated Thai Side
In Bandung, the Philippines faced a simple requirement.
Win.
Then hope Pakistan denied Vietnam.
They completed the first part.
Bjorn Kristensen scored in the third minute and gave the Philippines the ideal start.
Thailand had already secured first place and rotated heavily.
That showed.
The Philippines were sharper early.
They attacked with greater urgency.
They had more at stake.
Star Performer Bjorn Kristensen Scores Twice
Kristensen scored in the third minute.
Thailand equalized through Iklas Sanron in the 55th.
Kristensen then struck again in the 68th.
That second goal proved decisive.
The Philippines won 2-1.
Kristensen finished the group stage with another reminder of why he has become one of the Philippines’ most reliable attacking threats.
The same forward had already scored in the 2-2 draw against Pakistan.
This time, his goals produced a win.
They could not produce qualification.
Thailand Rotate After Already Winning the Group
Thailand entered the match with first place already secured.
That context matters.
They made major changes to the lineup.
The performance lacked some of the control seen in their earlier victories.
Even so, Thailand found an equalizer through Iklas Sanron and briefly looked capable of preserving their perfect record.
Kristensen’s second goal ended that possibility.
The defeat does not alter Thailand’s path.
Their biggest match is still ahead.
They will face Indonesia in the final.
Thailand’s route to first place was built earlier through the 2-0 win over Vietnam.
Philippines Win but Still Finish Third
The Philippines did everything they could on the final day.
They beat Thailand.
They reached four points.
But Vietnam’s comeback against Pakistan eliminated them from the bronze-final race.
That makes the result bittersweet.
A 2-1 victory over the group winner is significant.
Finishing third means the tournament still ends here.
The draw with Pakistan became especially costly.
Had the Philippines protected their 2-0 halftime lead in that match, the Group B table would look completely different.
Pakistan’s comeback in that 2-2 thriller therefore became one of the results that ultimately shaped second place.
Final FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group B Table
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 6 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 |
| 3 | Philippines | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 1 |
Thailand finish first because they beat Vietnam 2-0 in their head-to-head meeting.
Vietnam finish second.
Philippines finish third.
Pakistan finish fourth.
Pakistan’s One Point Does Not Tell the Full Story
Pakistan finish with one point from three matches.
That sounds modest.
Context changes the picture.
They entered as the 198th-ranked team.
Thailand were more than 100 places above them.
Vietnam were inside the world’s top 100.
The Philippines were also substantially higher.
Pakistan still scored four goals.
They came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Philippines.
They led Vietnam 1-0 at halftime.
They forced Vietnam to produce a serious second-half response.
Those are not meaningless details.
For a team short of regular high-level competitive exposure, this tournament provided evidence that Pakistan can compete for stretches against stronger opposition.
That assessment also aligns with the message captain Abdullah Iqbal gave FIFA after the Philippines draw: Pakistan had shown that they could compete when they played with courage and belief. FIFA
Pakistan’s Biggest Improvement Was Attacking Belief
Pakistan’s strongest passages came when they stopped treating higher-ranked opponents as untouchable.
Against Thailand, the performance became too passive after the opening goal.
Against the Philippines, Pakistan attacked after halftime and recovered from 2-0 down.
Against Vietnam, they started aggressively and took the lead.
That progression is important.
Pakistan scored four goals against three stronger teams.
They did not simply survive possession.
They created.
They counterattacked.
They scored from open play.
That is a better platform to build from than three defensive defeats would have provided.
What Pakistan Still Need to Improve
There were also clear problems.
Second-Half Game Management
Pakistan led Vietnam at halftime and could not protect the advantage.
Defensive Concentration
Vietnam scored twice within seven minutes after the break.
Pakistan struggled to slow the momentum.
Fitness and Depth
The second half against Vietnam exposed fatigue as the game stretched.
Maintaining Pressure After Scoring
Pakistan looked strongest when attacking proactively.
They still have a tendency to retreat after taking a lead.
Those are development issues.
They are also fixable.
Vietnam Earn Their Bronze-Final Place the Hard Way
Vietnam’s tournament has been uneven.
They beat the Philippines 1-0.
Thailand beat them 2-0.
Pakistan then led them at halftime.
Yet they still finish second.
The 4-2 comeback demonstrated resilience.
It also showed why the reigning regional champions remain dangerous even when they are not at their best.
Their next challenge is Malaysia.
Thailand and Indonesia Will Play for the Title
The championship final is now confirmed.
Indonesia vs Thailand
Date: October 5, 2026
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. WIB
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Indonesia reached the final after an extraordinary Group A finish in which they beat Bangladesh 9-2 and edged Malaysia on the deeper tiebreak after both teams finished level on seven points and +9 goal difference.
That final-day drama is covered in Indonesia Score Twice at the Death to Steal Group A as Malaysia’s 6-0 Singapore Rout Still Falls Short.
Thailand qualified from Group B after winning their first two matches.
The final brings the host nation against one of Southeast Asia’s traditional powers.
Malaysia and Vietnam Will Play for Third Place
The bronze match is also confirmed.
Malaysia vs Vietnam
Date: October 5, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. WIB
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Malaysia were denied a place in the final despite beating Singapore 6-0.
Vietnam secured second place by beating Pakistan 4-2.
Both teams will arrive with something to prove.
Malaysia will feel they did enough across the group stage to deserve more.
Vietnam will want to finish a difficult tournament with a medal.
FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Division 1 Medal Matches
| Match | Teams | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Final | Malaysia vs Vietnam | October 5 | 4:00 p.m. WIB | Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta |
| Final | Indonesia vs Thailand | October 5 | 8:00 p.m. WIB | Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta |
The full tournament schedule and format are available in TSE’s FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 guide.
Six Turning Points That Defined Group B’s Final Day
1. Mohib Ullah Gives Pakistan a 1-0 Lead
Pakistan’s goal changed the bronze-final race and gave the Philippines hope.
2. Vietnam Change Shape at Halftime
The introduction of Tuan Tai helped Vietnam attack with greater speed and width.
3. Hai Long Equalizes in the 50th Minute
Pakistan’s halftime advantage disappeared almost immediately.
4. Hoàng Đức Scores Seven Minutes Later
Vietnam turned the match around before Pakistan could regain control.
5. Kristensen Makes It 2-1 Against Thailand
The Philippines completed their side of the qualification equation.
6. Minh Hoang Scores Vietnam’s Fourth
The stoppage-time goal ended any late uncertainty and confirmed Vietnam’s second-place finish.
Star Performers of the Group B Finale
Phan Tuan Tai, Vietnam
His halftime introduction changed Vietnam’s attack and directly influenced two goals.
Nguyễn Đình Bắc, Vietnam
He created the second goal and scored the third.
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, Vietnam
His powerful finish put Vietnam ahead and shifted control of the match.
Bjorn Kristensen, Philippines
Two goals against Thailand gave the Philippines an impressive final-day victory.
Mohib Ullah, Pakistan
His first-half goal rewarded Pakistan’s best opening 45 minutes of the tournament.
Abdullah Iqbal, Pakistan
The captain again provided leadership and structure against an opponent with much greater technical depth.
What the Tournament Says About Pakistan
Pakistan did not qualify.
They did not win a match.
Yet the tournament still provided something useful.
Evidence.
The Falcons showed they can compete in phases against higher-ranked national teams.
They scored twice against the Philippines.
They scored twice against Vietnam.
They defended a halftime lead against the ASEAN champions for 45 minutes.
For a team ranked 198th, that is a foundation.
The next step is turning competitive halves into competitive 90-minute performances.
That distinction will determine whether this tournament becomes a genuine turning point or simply an encouraging week.
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Who Finished First in FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group B?
Thailand finished first with six points.
Who Finished Second?
Vietnam finished second with six points but lost the head-to-head meeting with Thailand.
Who Will Vietnam Play in the Bronze Final?
Vietnam will play Malaysia.
Who Will Thailand Play in the Final?
Thailand will play Indonesia.
When Is the Bronze Final?
Malaysia vs Vietnam is scheduled for October 5 at 4:00 p.m. WIB.
When Is the FIFA ASEAN Cup Final?
Indonesia vs Thailand is scheduled for October 5 at 8:00 p.m. WIB.
Where Will Both Matches Be Played?
Both will be played at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
How Did Pakistan Finish?
Pakistan finished fourth in Group B with one point.
How Many Goals Did Pakistan Score?
Pakistan scored four goals in three matches.
Why Is Pakistan’s Tournament Still Encouraging?
They entered ranked 198th, faced three significantly higher-ranked teams, came from 2-0 down to draw with the Philippines, led Vietnam at halftime and scored four goals overall.
