Top VFF official clearly states conditions for Vietnam to participate in the World Cup

VFF Vice President Trần Anh Tú believes that for Vietnam futsal to consider the World Cup, the current generation of players needs more international exposure to enhance their resilience and performance.

After the Vietnam futsal team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship, Vice President Trần Anh Tú gave candid assessments about the team's current state and future prospects. According to him, Vietnam futsal is still on the right track in terms of playing style, but the most crucial factor now is for the current players to gain more international match experience.

Reflecting on the tournament held in Indonesia, Mr. Trần Anh Tú noted that the Vietnam futsal team showed a positive attacking approach but lacked finishing efficiency. “The team played with a diverse attacking style, creating many chances in every match, but the goal-scoring efficiency was too low, especially in the two matches against Thailand and the host Indonesia. We also made too many defensive errors,”Mr. Tú commented. These weaknesses prevented Vietnam from advancing further despite often holding their own in the matches.

In the quarterfinals, the futsal team Vietnam narrowly lost to host Indonesia with a score of 2-3. The Indonesian team at one point took a two-goal lead, but Coach Diego Giustozzi’s players fought hard until the final minutes. Two goals from Đa Hải helped Vietnam reduce the deficit and apply significant pressure, yet it was not enough to overturn the result and secure a semifinal spot.

According to VFF Vice President Trần Anh Tú, a major reason for the team’s underperformance was the transition phase in the squad. Many key players, once icons of Vietnam futsal, retired due to age or injury. First-choice goalkeeper Hồ Văn Ý was also absent due to not being in optimal condition, while his replacement Văn Tú lacked experience on big stages. “The team included seven players making their first appearance at the Asian level, some just turning 20 or 21 like Đa Hải, Ngọc Ánh, Quang Nguyên, and Công Đại. Two key players, Đoàn Phát and Thái Huy, recently returned from injury and were not at full form,”Mr. Tú analyzed.

Nonetheless, VFF leadership saw many positive aspects in the team. Mr. Trần Anh Tú praised the fighting spirit and composure of the young players, especially in the match against Indonesia. “If Thịnh Phát and his teammates had capitalized on some chances, the team would definitely have reached the semifinals,”he emphasized. Their calmness under home crowd pressure and when trailing demonstrated the team’s potential for future growth.

Looking ahead to long-term goals, VFF Vice President Trần Anh Tú said that for Vietnam futsal to aim for the World Cup, the prerequisite is frequent participation and exposure in high-level international competitions. Between now and the 2028 Asian Championship finals, which also serve as World Cup qualifiers, the team should be given opportunities to compete in more regional and continental tournaments. “If this happens, by then we will likely have a generation of players at their peak performance,”Mr. Tú affirmed, expressing confidence that Vietnam futsal still has room to grow if it continues to receive systematic and sustainable investment.