AFC reacts as Vietnam national team climbs 9 spots on FIFA rankings

The AFC homepage pays particular attention to Vietnam's national team after its jump of 9 positions to world rank 99 in the FIFA rankings for April 2026.

On April 1, FIFA released the latest rankings after more than three months. With a 3-0 awarded win over Malaysia, a 3-0 victory against Bangladesh, and a 3-1 win over Malaysia in the rematch, Vietnam's national team made significant progress on the ranking table. Specifically, the red-shirted squad gained 36.17 points, climbed 9 spots, and advanced to the 99th position. Notably, this is also the best growth worldwide in this announcement period, and marks Vietnam's first return to the top 100 on the FIFA rankings since December 2023 (rank 94).

The impressive resurgence of Vietnamese football has drawn special attention from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). In its announcement about the latest rankings of Asian teams, AFC specifically mentioned Vietnam's national team. "Vietnam is the country with the biggest leap, rising 9 places to position 99 within the top 100, while Malaysia dropped 17 spots to rank 138."Additionally, AFC also posted several images of coach Kim Sang Sik and his team after the 3-1 victory over Malaysia on March 31.

Sharing his feelings after the victory over rival Malaysia, Coach Kim Sang Sik expressed gratitude to the fans who created an enthusiastic atmosphere in the stands, boosting the team's motivation. He also acknowledged the efforts of the entire squad in what was considered a deserved victory for Vietnam's national team.

The Korean tactician further emphasized that the atmosphere at Thien Truong Stadium was one of the most memorable experiences since he started working in Vietnam, and affirmed that the passionate support from spectators played a crucial role in helping the team perform brilliantly.