China, 24 September, 2025 – Vietnam’s national futsal team booked their place at the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup in style after defeating Lebanon 4-0 in the final Group E fixture of the qualification stage on Tuesday afternoon (September 24).
Heading into the decisive clash, Vietnam only needed to avoid defeat to guarantee progression. However, head coach Diego Giustozzi’s side produced a commanding display to not only secure qualification but also clinch top spot in the group.
The Southeast Asian representatives started brightly and quickly translated their dominance into goals. In the eighth minute, Da Hai broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish. Momentum firmly swung in Vietnam’s favor as Manh Dung doubled the lead, before Tu Minh Quang made it 3-0 before the halftime whistle, giving Vietnam a commanding cushion.
After the restart, Vietnam showed no signs of slowing down. In the 25th minute, Vu Ngoc Anh added a fourth, finishing off a slick attacking move to effectively put the result beyond doubt. With a four-goal advantage, Giustozzi’s men tightened their defensive organization and calmly absorbed Lebanon’s attacking attempts, ensuring the clean sheet was preserved.
Despite Lebanon’s efforts to claw a goal back, they found no breakthrough against Vietnam’s disciplined defense and sharp counter-pressing. The West Asian side struggled to impose themselves, while Vietnam managed the game intelligently until the final whistle.
The 4-0 victory capped off a near-perfect qualification campaign for Vietnam, who topped Group E with maximum confidence. For coach Diego Giustozzi, the result was not only about progression but also a statement of intent ahead of the continental finals next year.
The 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualification featured 31 national teams divided into eight groups, competing in a single round-robin format. The eight group winners and the seven best runners-up will advance to the finals, scheduled to take place in Indonesia.
For Vietnam, finishing first in the group not only guarantees a place in Indonesia but also underlines their growing reputation as one of Asia’s most competitive futsal sides. After opening their campaign with a resounding 9-1 victory over Hong Kong (China) and following it up with a 7-2 win over China, the dominant triumph against Lebanon showcased both their attacking flair and defensive solidity.
The team will now shift focus towards preparations for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, where they aim to build on their recent progress and challenge the continent’s best teams. With a squad blending experience and emerging talent, Vietnam have once again proven that they are a force to be reckoned with on the Asian futsal stage.
Hanh Phuong
Leave a Reply