Vietnam’s national teams set an unprecedented record in Asia

Throughout 2025, six Vietnamese national squads succeeded in qualifying for the 2026 Asian Championship finals. At present, Vietnamese football awaits only the Vietnam national team’s qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.

The year 2025 marked one of the most remarkable phases in Vietnamese football history as six national teams officially earned their places in the 2026 Asian Championship finals. This achievement is unprecedented in Southeast Asia over the past year, further strengthening Vietnam’s growing stature in continental football.

Specifically, aside from the Vietnam national team’s success at the AFF Cup and the U23 Southeast Asian championship title, Vietnam’s youth and futsal teams also performed impressively during qualifiers. The teams that qualified for the finals include: the Vietnam women’s team, U17 women, U20 women, U17 men, U23 men, and the men’s futsal team. The U20 men’s team did not participate as there was no qualifier this year. Notably, no Vietnamese team was eliminated in the qualification rounds — a feat even Thailand could not match, as their women’s team was stopped by India.

At the meeting with three teams — the women’s national team, men’s futsal team, and U22 Vietnam team — ahead of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, VFF President Trần Quốc Tuấn emphasized that to elevate the team and pursue the World Cup dream, the essential prerequisite is regular participation in Asian competitions. According to him, only by facing strong teams in the continent can Vietnamese players truly gain experience, improve skills, and build competitive resilience.

Currently, the Vietnam national team is the only representative still competing in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Since the qualifiers are scheduled during FIFA international windows, the tournament will last nearly a year and conclude in March 2026. Given the current situation, especially Malaysia’s potential point deductions, the coach and players have a very promising chance to reach the finals. If successful, Vietnamese football will have seven teams participating in the continental finals — a historic milestone.

This is not just an achievement but also a crucial stepping stone for the long-term development of Vietnamese football. Consistent presence in Asian tournaments provides domestic players with high-quality competitive environments, helping them refine their skills and adapt better to pressure. This foundation brings Vietnamese football closer to its goal of establishing a strong continental position and continuing its journey toward the World Cup.

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