Vietnam’s number one striker has officially agreed to join Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC to compete in the 2024-2025 AFC Women’s Champions League. The contract, which is notably one of the shortest in the history of Vietnamese women’s football, will last for four months and conclude after the final match of the tournament.
As previously reported, while awaiting a new contract for the 2025 season—whether that involves returning to Vietnam or continuing to play in Portugal—the captain of the Vietnam women’s national team has accepted an offer to play for Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in the AFC Women’s Champions League. The short-term contract is a strategic move that aligns with the tournament’s timeline.
Since parting ways with Lank FC after the 2023-2024 season, Huynh Nhu has not signed with any club, despite receiving offers from Thai Nguyen T&T and Ho Chi Minh City I during the mid-2024 season. Instead, she has taken time to rest and engage in various social activities.
For Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC, this marks their first appearance in a continental tournament, a significant honor and a key opportunity for Coach Kim Chi and her team to prove themselves. Although they are the reigning national champions, their strength is considered relatively modest compared to the stronger teams in the region. Therefore, Huynh Nhu’s presence is expected to be a significant boost for Coach Kim Chi as she works to strengthen the squad.
In this tournament, Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC will host the group stage matches, competing against Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Taichung Blue Whale (Chinese Taipei), and the winner of the play-off round. The 2024-2025 edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League features 21 teams, with 13 teams entering the preliminary rounds and eight teams directly qualifying for the group stage. Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC is among those that have qualified directly for the group stage. The 12 teams in the group stage will compete in Vietnam (Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City), China, and Thailand.
According to the tournament rules, the teams will play a single round-robin format at a centralized location, with the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, advancing to the quarterfinals. A notable highlight of this year’s tournament is the significant increase in financial rewards compared to previous editions. Specifically, upon reaching the group stage, Coach Kim Chi and her team are guaranteed to receive $100,000 from the AFC. Additional victories in the group stage will earn further bonuses according to the AFC’s financial regulations. Beyond these bonuses, the tournament champion will be awarded the trophy and $1.3 million.
This participation marks a milestone for Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC as they step onto the continental stage, with high expectations for both performance and growth. The inclusion of Huynh Nhu, one of Vietnam’s most accomplished players, underscores the team’s ambition and readiness to compete against Asia’s elite.
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