Vietnam suffered a heavy 3-5 defeat against the Central Asian opponent

In the initial warm-up game before the Asian futsal finals, Vietnam had to accept a 3-5 loss to Afghanistan.

On January 18, the Vietnam and Afghanistan futsal teams played a friendly match prior to the 2026 Asian futsal finals. The result was a 3-5 loss for Vietnam. This match was held behind closed doors with no spectators allowed.

The Vietnam futsal team started actively, creating many challenges for their opponent through quick transitions and constant pressure. However, Afghanistan remained focused with a disciplined defense and sharp shots on Vietnam’s goalkeeper.

This friendly match helped both teams better prepare physically, tactically, and mentally ahead of the Asian Cup. On January 20, the two teams will face each other again before the official tournament begins.

At the 2026 Asian futsal finals, Vietnam’s squad has significantly improved with the return of three experienced wingers: Ngô Ngọc Sơn, Châu Đoàn Phát, and Trần Thái Huy. All three have recovered from injuries and resumed training with the team.

“I am very pleased to welcome back these three quality wingers because they have a major influence on the Vietnam futsal team’s playing style. When key experienced players were injured, the younger players stepped up and temporarily filled those positions,” said coach Diego Giustozzi.

Following the friendly matches with Afghanistan, the Vietnam futsal team will travel to Indonesia to officially participate in the 2026 Asian futsal finals. In this tournament, Vietnam is placed in Group B alongside strong opponents including the reigning Asian runner-up Thailand, Kuwait, and Lebanon.