Kuala Lumpur, 26 June, 2025 – On the afternoon of June 26, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted the official draw for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, placing the Vietnamese national futsal team in group E alongside hosts China, Lebanon, and Hong Kong.
A total of 31 teams were divided into eight groups for the qualification stage. Teams will compete in a single round-robin format within their groups, with the top team from each group and the seven best second-placed teams earning spots at the final tournament, scheduled to take place in Indonesia in January 2026.
Vietnam, seeded number one in group E, will face considerable challenges despite being regarded as the strongest team in the group. Under the guidance of head coach Diego Giustozzi, the team aims to top the group and secure direct qualification.
Lebanon, ranked 14th in Asia, is expected to be Vietnam’s toughest rival. Following their failure to qualify for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, Lebanon has been rebuilding its futsal program. Several experienced players remain from the squad that faced Vietnam in the play-off match for the 2021 Futsal World Cup.
Host nation China, currently ranked 21st in Asia, has made visible strides in recent years. At the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, they narrowly lost 0-1 to Vietnam in the group stage. With home advantage this time, China could pose a serious challenge.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is widely regarded as the underdog in the group and may act as a potential point source for the remaining teams.
The Group E qualifiers will take place in China from September 20 to 24, 2025, as part of the broader qualification round hosted across eight countries: Thailand, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and China.
This qualifying campaign is one of two major international objectives for Vietnam’s futsal team in 2025, the other being the SEA Games, set to be held in Thailand in December. Coach Diego Giustozzi and his squad are expected to begin training immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 National Futsal Cup in August.
With strong ambition and a well-balanced squad led by key figures like goalkeeper Ho Van Y, Vietnam is aiming not just to qualify, but to dominate the group stage and set a solid foundation for success at the continental finals.
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