A Japanese referee will officiate the Vietnam vs. Singapore match.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has designated Japanese referee Hiroki Kasahara to officiate the match between the Vietnam national team and Singapore in the third round of Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, taking place on July 31 at My Dinh National Stadium.

A standout feature of Hiroki Kasahara's officiating style is his decisiveness and strictness. He does not hesitate to make firm decisions against dangerous fouls, while maintaining tight control over the match.

In the J1 League, he has officiated 110 matches, issuing 299 yellow cards (an average of 2.72 per match), 14 red cards, and awarding 33 penalties.

As a result, this Japanese referee has sparked controversy on several occasions regarding red card decisions or penalty calls in international tournaments.

The AFF's assignment of Hiroki Kasahara to oversee the clash between Vietnam and Singapore highlights the importance of the match. This is seen as a contest that could significantly impact the race for a semifinal spot in the 2026 ASEAN Cup, as both teams aim to secure all three points.

Alongside the Japanese main referee Hiroki Kasahara, the AFF has also assigned an experienced team of officials to handle the Vietnam vs. Singapore match. The assistant referees are Michiyama Satoshi (Japan) and Rawut Nakarit (Thailand), while Wiwat Jumpaaon (Thailand) serves as the fourth official.

The presence of referees from Japan and Thailand in the officiating team shows that the AFF is paying special attention to the management of this crucial encounter, which is seen as significant in the race for a semifinal berth in the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

Main referee Hiroki Kasahara has been a FIFA referee since 2020, regularly officiating in the J.League and AFC competitions. He has previously taken charge of the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship final between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as numerous matches in the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC youth tournaments.

After the first round of matches, the Vietnam national team holds an advantage in the race for a semifinal spot in the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup. With a 7-0 victory over Timor Leste, coach Kim Sang Sik's team currently leads Group A with 3 points and a goal difference of +7.

Singapore is second in Group A with 3 points and a goal difference of +1, thanks to a thrilling 2-1 win over Cambodia in their opening match. Indonesia is third (0 points, goal difference 0) despite not having played any matches yet. Cambodia (0 points, goal difference -1) and Timor Leste (0 points, goal difference -7) are fourth and fifth in Group A, respectively.