Viet Tri, 28 June, 2025 – At the pre-match press conference held on June 28, head coach Mai Duc Chung of the Vietnam women’s national team emphasized the importance of remaining cautious and focused, despite Vietnam entering the Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers as Group E favorites.
Representing the host nation, Coach Mai Duc Chung shared his thoughts alongside the head coaches of the other Group E teams – Maldives, UAE, and Guam. “Vietnam aims to top Group E in this qualifying campaign. We are fully committed to performing strongly from the very first match against Maldives,” he stated. “We respect all three of our opponents. They have made clear progress and all played friendly matches in preparation. Vietnam must be cautious and work very hard.”
He added, “Teams that receive proper investment progress quickly. Vietnam has also made strides over the past two years. In preparation for this tournament, we conducted a training camp in Japan, which provided excellent conditions for player development. At home, we often train with men’s teams due to the lack of quality sparring partners. So the camp in Japan was a very valuable experience.”
Regarding the squad selection, Coach Chung explained the absence of Vietnamese-origin player Nam Mi, saying: “We welcome all overseas Vietnamese players who wish to contribute to the national team. We were happy to have Nam Mi join the training camp, but due to professional considerations, she was not selected for this tournament. This squad does include several promising young players like Minh Chuyen, Nguyen Thi Hoa, and Thu Em.”
From the Maldives side, head coach Mohamed Athif acknowledged the challenge ahead: “We are excited to compete against strong teams in this group. Our preparation had some limitations, but we are determined to give our best performance. Facing Vietnam in the opening match will be the toughest test for us. We hope our players rise to the occasion.”
Meanwhile, the UAE head coach noted the cultural and developmental challenges in building the national team. “Since football resumed after COVID-19, I’ve worked closely with my staff to rebuild this squad. We are proud of our progress. This tournament will help us assess where we stand and how far we’ve come. We chose to focus on domestic players, both due to cultural reasons and a desire to invest in the future of women’s football in the UAE.”
Guam’s coach, Kim Sherman, kept expectations realistic, stating: “We want to use this opportunity to gauge our level by playing against stronger Asian teams. Competing on a continental stage will help us grow and improve women’s football in Guam.”
Vietnam is expected to lead the group, but with each team demonstrating ambition and growth, the road to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will require discipline and determination from the Golden Star Women Warriors.
Kim Chi
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