This was the fourth AFF Championship final for Vietnam, having won in
2008 and
2018 finals, but lost in
1998 final.
This was the tenth AFF Championship final for Thailand, having won the
1996, 2000, 2002,
2014,
2016, and
2020 finals, and lost in
2007,
2008, and
2012 finals.
Both were the strongest-ranked AFF teams in the
FIFA World Rankings; Vietnam was ranked first in Southeast Asia and 96th overall while Thailand was ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia and ranked 111th.[3][4] Both teams have the second-highest win percentage in the AFF Championship finals behind
Singapore (67% each). Thailand was leading the all-time championship table with six titles to their name while Vietnam, on the other hand, only won two in 2008 and 2018. They had met only in
2008 AFF Championship Final, where Vietnam won 3–2 on aggregate (won 2–1 in the first leg; and drew 1–1 in the second). In all competitions since Vietnam's reintegration, Thailand won 16 meetings, Vietnam won only 3, and 7 matches ended in draws.[5]
This final between the two countries is highly anticipated after 15 years.[6][7][8]