After a challenging 2024, Vietnamese football is setting its sights on qualifying for two prestigious tournaments in 2025: the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup and the U17 FIFA World Cup. These ambitious goals are backed by promising developments in the latter half of 2024.
A Tough 2024 for Vietnamese Football
The year 2024 was marked by several setbacks for Vietnamese football. The national men’s team failed to advance to the third round of the AFC World Cup 2026 qualifiers, leading to a change in head coach. The futsal men’s team missed out on their third consecutive FIFA Futsal World Cup berth, and the U20 men’s team fell short of qualifying for the AFC U20 Championship 2025 despite hosting the qualifiers. Meanwhile, the women’s national team had a quiet year, focusing on friendlies without any official matches.
Positive Signs in Late 2024
Despite the disappointing start, the latter half of 2024 brought some encouraging outcomes. The women’s futsal team, under Coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang, achieved notable success. They finished as runners-up in a tournament in China, won a friendly competition in Thailand, and triumphed at the Southeast Asian Women’s Futsal Championship 2024. These accomplishments, spanning September to November, marked a significant comeback for the team.
Similarly, the U17 men’s team delivered impressive results. With a core squad of 16-year-old players, they reached the semifinals of the Southeast Asian U16 Championship in June. They also defeated Uzbekistan and Japan in a tournament in China and secured a spot in the AFC U17 Championship 2025 by winning their qualifying group on home soil in October.
Targeting the 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup
The 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, the inaugural edition of the tournament, presents a unique opportunity for the Vietnamese women’s futsal team. With four Asian slots available—three through the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship and one reserved for host nation Philippines—Vietnam stands a strong chance. Ranked fourth in Asia and 11th globally as of late 2024, the team has demonstrated its ability to compete with top-tier opponents, drawing against Iran and Thailand in recent matches.
To further gauge their global standing, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) organized two friendlies against Russia, ranked seventh in the world. Although Vietnam lost both matches, the team showcased their competitiveness by scoring against a formidable opponent. These experiences will bolster their confidence as they prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship qualifiers starting January 2025.
U17 World Cup Ambitions
The expansion of the FIFA U17 World Cup from 24 to 48 teams has opened doors for Vietnam. With nine slots allocated to Asia, including host nation Qatar, Vietnam only needs to advance to the quarterfinals of the AFC U17 Championship 2025 to secure a World Cup berth. This is an achievable target, as Vietnam’s U17 teams have reached this stage twice before.
The AFC U17 Championship 2025, scheduled for April in Saudi Arabia, will be a crucial test. The draw on January 23, 2025, will determine Vietnam’s group-stage opponents, after which the VFF plans to organize overseas training camps to ensure optimal preparation.
A New Chapter for Vietnamese Football
While the senior men’s team’s World Cup aspirations remain distant, success in other categories could provide a vital boost. Following the women’s national team’s historic appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and the men’s futsal team’s participation in the FIFA Futsal World Cups in 2016 and 2021, Vietnam now seeks to break new ground in the Women’s Futsal World Cup and U17 World Cup in 2025. These efforts symbolize a broader vision to elevate Vietnamese football on the global stage.
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