Controversial Victory of Vietnam National Team, Philippines Unexpectedly Praised by AFC

The AFC praises the advancement of the Philippines women's national team after their notable recent performance and revisits the controversial win against Vietnam in the SEA Games final.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently published an article highlighting the significant improvement of the Philippines women's team after securing a spot in the 2026 Women's Asian Cup final tournament. While reflecting on their development journey, the victory over Vietnam's women's team in the SEA Games final was mentioned as a key milestone, demonstrating the rising status of this Southeast Asian representative.

According to the AFC, the Philippines women's first appearance at the 2023 Women's World Cup gave a major boost to women's football in the country, sparking increased domestic interest. Under the guidance of coach Mark Torcaso, the team has maintained steady progress, developing a disciplined and effective playing style, thereby continuing to assert their ambition to compete at the continental level in the new cycle.

During the 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, the Philippines displayed convincing form by winning all three matches, scoring many goals, and not conceding any. The AFC emphasized the team's tactical consistency and squad depth, despite the absence of key striker Sarina Bolden during this crucial campaign.

Notably, the AFC article also recalled the 2025 SEA Games championship, where the Philippines defeated Vietnam's women's team — a squad that had won four consecutive SEA Games titles beforehand. This victory is regarded as a historic turning point, marking a shift in the competitive balance in Southeast Asia as the Philippines claimed the title for the first time after years of being considered underdogs.

However, that final was highly controversial. Vietnam’s women's team was denied a clear goal after Bích Thùy's header, when the assistant referee raised the offside flag despite slow-motion replays showing the goal was legitimate. This decision provoked strong reactions from the coaching staff and fans.

Concluding the article, the AFC stated that the rise of the Philippines reflects the increasingly fierce competition in Southeast Asian women's football. While the Philippines confirms its continental ambitions following historic milestones, Vietnam's women's team also faces strong motivation to reaffirm their position, promising an exciting rivalry in upcoming regional and Asian tournaments.