2026 AFC Futsal Championship: Vietnam Team Ready to Continue Making History

Reflecting on the overall group stage journey, the Argentine coach stated that the Vietnam Futsal team has shown clear progress with each match. Coach Diego Giustozzi shared: “I am very pleased with what the team has accomplished. Both individual form and team tactics have improved game by game. In today’s match specifically, we deserved to win and actually performed better than our opponent. The most important thing is the entire team enters the quarterfinals with a very positive mindset.”

Regarding potential quarterfinal opponents Indonesia or Iraq, the Vietnam Futsal head coach said both present significant challenges but have very different styles. “Indonesia represents Southeast Asia and has a playing style and approach quite similar to ours, while Iraq is a completely different opponent with a unique style. Indonesia also has the advantage of playing at home with strong crowd support. However, once reaching the quarterfinals, all 8 teams are among Asia’s strongest,” he analyzed.

When asked about choosing an opponent, Coach Diego Giustozzi emphasized that he does not focus on this issue. He stressed: “I don’t want to pick anyone. The most important thing now is how the team feels after the recent match, and that feeling is very positive. I am truly satisfied with the players’ performance.”

Speaking about the Vietnam Futsal team’s style in this tournament, the Argentine strategist praised the balance and completeness between defense and attack. He affirmed: “The team is playing attractive futsal. We deserved victories against Kuwait, Lebanon, and also in the recent match. The whole squad is ready for the quarterfinals.”

Sharing the team’s goals ahead, the Vietnam Futsal head coach stated that the ambition goes beyond just reaching the quarterfinals. He said: “We want to keep winning to reach the semifinals and make history. I am very proud of the players. This is a young team; out of 14 players, 8 are participating in an AFC tournament for the first time, and many are only 20-21 years old. I believe this team can leave a special mark in this year’s competition.”

Echoing this view, captain Nguyen Manh Dung said that reaching the quarterfinals reflects the high quality and competitiveness of the tournament. “We may face Indonesia — a team with a relatively equal level. In the quarterfinals, all teams are very strong. The coaching staff will carefully study the opponent to prepare the best strategy aiming for a positive result,” Manh Dung shared.

Regarding the match against Thailand, the Vietnam Futsal captain said the team followed the game plan well. Manh Dung added: “Thailand is a very strong opponent. We played according to the tactics, but they made better use of their chances, which is why they won.”