Vietnam National Team wins a thrilling 5-4 against Kuwait at the AFC Futsal Championship

The Vietnamese futsal squad earned a tough 5-4 win against Kuwait in their debut game at the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship.

Vietnam's futsal team staged an impressive comeback to defeat Kuwait 5-4, despite trailing for most of the first half.

Right from the kickoff, Kuwait started stronger. The West Asian side pushed forward aggressively, continuously pressuring goalkeeper Phạm Văn Tú’s goal. In the 7th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Vietnam, Anelezi scored to open the scoring for Kuwait. Shortly after, Borashed added another goal, putting the blue-shirted team ahead 2-0.

Under heavy pressure, the Vietnamese futsal team refused to give up. Coach Diego Giustozzi’s players gradually regained control, organizing more coherent attacking plays. In the 9th minute, Châu Đoàn Phát exploited an opponent’s mistake to reduce the deficit to 1-2. By the 15th minute, Thịnh Phát executed a beautiful shot to level the score. Although Kuwait scored again to lead 3-2, captain Nguyễn Mạnh Dũng timely equalized at 3-3, allowing Vietnam to end the first half with high spirits.

In the second half, Vietnam’s futsal team showed much more vigor. The red-shirted squad controlled the game tempo well, consistently creating diverse attacking opportunities from both wings and the center. Their pressing efforts paid off with two consecutive goals from Từ Minh Quang and Nguyễn Mạnh Dũng, pushing coach Diego Giustozzi’s team ahead 5-3.

In the final minutes, Kuwait was forced to use a power-play tactic to seek a comeback. The West Asian side managed to score once more to narrow the gap, but it was not enough to overturn the result. Ultimately, Vietnam’s futsal team won 5-4, marking a positive start to the tournament.

40': Match ends. Vietnam 5-4 Kuwait

38': GOAL!!! KUWAIT REDUCES THE DEFICIT

Kuwait’s power-play strategy resulted in a long-range shot by player number 5, cutting the score difference.

32': 5-3 FOR VIETNAM NATIONAL TEAM

Captain Nguyễn Mạnh Dũng scored a precise shot following a well-executed free-kick combination by the Vietnamese futsal team.

30': GOAL!!!! TỪ MINH QUANG SCORES

From a chaotic moment inside the penalty area, the ball was cleared out to Từ Minh Quang, who fired a very precise shot to put Vietnam ahead 4-3.

29': NO GOAL

Ngọc Linh quickly spotted the opportunity and passed to Thịnh Phát who rushed for a close-range shot but was too late.

26': STILL NO ADDITIONAL GOALS

Vietnam’s futsal team increased the game pace but has not yet scored another lead goal.

22': MISS

Kuwait’s goalkeeper Alkhawari advanced smartly to close the angle and blocked the Vietnamese player’s shot.

20': GOAL!!!!! 3-3 FOR VIETNAM

The Vietnamese warriors played tirelessly. Captain Mạnh Dũng struck a left-footed shot that wasn’t very powerful but enough to beat the opponent.

19': 3-2 FOR KUWAIT

Number 12 Alshatti fired a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Phạm Văn Tú.

17': NO GOAL

Đa Hải attempted two consecutive shots but both lacked accuracy.

15': GOAL!!!!!! THỊNH PHÁT SCORES

Thịnh Phát delivered a stunning finish to help Vietnam level the score at 2-2.

15': NO GOAL

Châu Đoàn Phát made another dangerous attempt but failed to beat the opposing goalkeeper.

13': NO GOAL

Vietnam’s futsal team repeatedly launched attacking combinations towards Kuwait’s goal but failed to convert. Vũ Ngọc Ánh had a good shot but couldn’t get past goalkeeper Abdullah.

9': VIETNAM REDUCES SCORE

GOAL!!! The futsal team cut the score to 1-2. Châu Đoàn Phát took advantage of a Kuwaiti player’s error and scored with a toe-poke, marking the first goal for his team.

9': 2-0 FOR KUWAIT

Borashed swung his leg to help Kuwait extend the lead to 2-0.

7': GOAL!! 1-0 FOR KUWAIT

A defensive mistake by Công Đại allowed Anelezi a clear shot, opening the scoring for Kuwait.

6': CHALLENGE SAVED

A Kuwaiti player unleashed a very tough shot, but Văn Tú flew to make a successful save.

4': DANGEROUS

Kuwait kept attacking goalkeeper Văn Tú’s goal. This time, captain Alfhadel fired a powerful shot that went wide of the post.

3': NO GOAL

Players from both sides took shots at each other’s goals but no goals were scored yet. Those attempts came from Thịnh Phát and Albaeijan.

2'10s: DANGEROUS

Immediately, Kuwait’s futsal team had a dangerous chance to shoot at Vietnam’s goal but the ball was off target.

2': NO GOAL

Goalkeeper Phạm Văn Tú attempted a shot from midfield but the ball flew too high.

1s: Match starts

Starting lineups

What time is the Vietnam vs Kuwait futsal match and where to watch live?

• Time: 17:00 on January 27
• Location: Jakarta International Velodrome Stadium
• Tournament: Group B, 2026 AFC Futsal Championship Finals
• Live on: TV360

Preview: Vietnam vs Kuwait futsal – a victorious start

Vietnam’s futsal team entered their opening match in Group B, at the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship Finals against Kuwait.

Coach Diego Giustozzi’s team entered the tournament as Group E winners with a perfect record of three wins against Lebanon, Hong Kong (China), and China. Before the match, the Argentine strategist stated:

"I can’t think about the second or third matches right now; I have to focus on the first game. Because if you don’t play with 100% performance and full concentration, you can lose to any team.”

On the other side, Kuwait is no stranger to Vietnam’s futsal team. The West Asian team qualified for the finals as one of the seven best runners-up. Facing Vietnam, Kuwait’s head coach affirmed: "CWe will try to control the situation against Vietnam and in all the upcoming matches.”

Vietnam’s futsal team is considered slightly stronger in this encounter. Previously, in two friendly matches in September 2025, coach Diego Giustozzi’s squad won both games 3-2 and 3-1 respectively against Kuwait. Nevertheless, until the final whistle, anything can happen, requiring the red shirts to stay fully focused.

Key statistics before the Vietnam vs Kuwait futsal match

• Vietnam’s futsal team has won 2 and lost 3 in their last 5 matches.
• Kuwait’s futsal team has won 2 and lost 3 in their last 5 matches.
• In the last two encounters, Vietnam won both matches.

Predicted score: Vietnam futsal 3-2 Kuwait