Viet Tri, 2 July, 2025 – Vietnam women’s national team secured a dominant 6-0 victory over the UAE on July 2, maintaining their lead in Group E of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. With this commanding win, coach Mai Duc Chung’s side moved one step closer to booking their place at the final tournament.
Speaking to the press after the match, coach Mai Duc Chung expressed satisfaction with the result but acknowledged that improvements are still needed. “A 6-0 win was our target, but there were still some mistakes, such as lack of cohesion in our attacking combinations and inaccurate passes,” he said. “I’ve also asked the players to press more aggressively, especially when the opponents use short goal kicks.”
Commenting on veteran captain Huynh Nhu, Chung said, “Despite her age, Nhu remains a crucial figure and a spiritual leader. I’m also pleased with the performance and energy of our younger players. We’ll continue to give them chances to grow.”
Looking ahead to the final group-stage match against Guam, Chung added, “Guam is physically strong. We need to play at a high tempo, coordinate well, and use short passing to neutralize their strengths.”
On the other side, UAE head coach Vera Pauw praised her team despite the heavy defeat. “Nobody wants to lose by such a margin, but I’m proud of my players for fighting until the final whistle. They gave everything and deserve recognition,” she said.
Pauw also pointed out the development gap between the two nations: “Vietnam is a professional team with World Cup experience and a clear development pathway. After the pandemic, UAE women’s football is still in the rebuilding phase. We’ve relaunched the women’s national league and are investing in youth competitions, aiming to build a solid foundation with homegrown talent.”
She concluded by praising the Vietnamese side. “I was impressed by how Vietnam constantly rotated positions, moved the ball quickly, and displayed great tactical variety. While the result was not in our favor, I’m not disappointed. This is the nature of sport — we must keep believing in ourselves.”
Vietnam will face Guam at 7:00 p.m. on July 5 at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho. A draw will be enough for Vietnam to top Group E and qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
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