A few days after the World Cup 2026 ball stopped rolling in North America, another ball began to roll in Southeast Asia. Just as FIFA President Gianni Infantino was still floating the controversial idea of expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, the ASEAN Cup—a tournament that just turned 30 years old since the 1996 Tiger Cup—quietly kicked off without any similar discussion about reinventing itself.

The encounter with Timor Leste on a neutral field in Thailand marks the beginning of Kim Sang Sik's squad's title defense. Against a rival deemed the weakest in Group A, Vietnam aims for more than just three points—they seek a dominant win to boost goal difference, demonstrate their power, and save energy for the grueling road ahead.

Breaking Vietnamese football news 24/7: Van Lam and Tai Loc miss Timor Leste clash; Dinh Bac listed as one of ASEAN Cup's top young talents

Two years ago, the Vietnam team were conquerors. Now at the ASEAN Cup 2026, they are the defending champions. Expectations are naturally high, but alongside that, the pressure is also immense.

If the 2024 ASEAN Cup was the tournament where Vietnam claimed the title thanks to the explosion of Xuan Son and a tight, efficient playing style, the 2026 ASEAN Cup will likely witness a more convincing version.

According to the latest report from renowned journalist Marc Mechenoua, Atletico Madrid will officially announce the signing of South Korean international Lee Kang-in within the next few hours. This high-profile transfer has been fully finalized, with the club paying a total of €40 million for the Korean midfielder. The deal not only demonstrates Atletico's determination to strengthen their midfield but also marks a new milestone in Lee Kang-in's valuation.

On July 24, Beijing time, according to renowned reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, if the Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of LeBron James ultimately fails, Real Madrid star Mario Hezonja is one of the Cavaliers' backup options. The two sources revealed that Hezonja has entered the Cavaliers' list of potential alternative signings, which also includes Hawks free agent Jonathan Kuminga.

The squad for Manchester United's friendly against Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway has been confirmed. Carrick brought 25 players, with the only new addition still being Andre Santos. The highly anticipated young talent JJ Gabriel traveled with the team and received a warm welcome from local fans.

On July 24, Beijing time, according to ESPN reporter Slater, the Los Angeles Lakers have been continuously contacting forward Jonathan Kuminga in the offseason free agent market. "I can say clearly that the Lakers have been constantly calling Kuminga," Slater revealed on the NBA Today show. "But obviously, the offers they have made are not enough to convince Kuminga to make up his mind to join.

On July 24th Beijing time, The Athletic's insider Vardon wrote an article updating James's status. He hasn't made a decision yet. So what exactly is James waiting for? Although several teams are interested in acquiring him, Vardon points out that only two teams have actively made moves to bring him in: the Cavaliers and the Warriors.