Hanoi, 27 January 2026 – Vietnam Women’s National Team has confirmed two important international friendly matches as part of their preparation plan for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Finals. The team, led by coach Mai Duc Chung, will face Uzbekistan Women’s National Team twice at the end of January 2026, with the matches scheduled for January 28 and January 30. These fixtures are seen as a key step in sharpening performance and testing squad depth before the continental tournament.
The two friendlies are considered highly valuable because Uzbekistan are also one of the teams that have qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Finals. On the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking, Uzbekistan are ranked 49th in the world, around 13 places below Vietnam. Despite the ranking difference, Uzbekistan remain a competitive and physically strong opponent, which makes these matches a realistic test for Vietnam. Facing a rival of similar ambition on the road to the Asian Cup will give Vietnam’s coaching staff clearer data to assess technical quality, tactical understanding, and overall match readiness.
Coach Mai Duc Chung is continuing his long-term strategy of building a balanced squad that combines experienced core players with emerging young talents. Key senior figures such as Hai Yen and Bich Thuy are expected to play an important role not only on the pitch but also in guiding the next generation. At the same time, the coaching staff are actively giving opportunities to younger players, with the aim of creating a sustainable transition and ensuring the team remains competitive beyond the current cycle. These friendlies against Uzbekistan are therefore not just about results, but also about observing how effectively the new combinations function under real match pressure.
At the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Finals, Vietnam have been drawn into Group C alongside Japan, India, and Chinese Taipei. This is a challenging group, especially with Japan being one of the strongest teams in Asia and a regular contender at the World Cup. However, with disciplined organization and peak performance, Vietnam are still viewed as having a realistic chance to compete for a direct place in the quarterfinals. The upcoming friendlies are part of the broader effort to ensure the team are fully prepared to handle opponents of varying styles and levels.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 also serves as the official qualification tournament for the. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. According to the competition format, the six best teams that reach the quarterfinals will secure direct World Cup tickets, while the remaining two quarterfinalists will enter intercontinental play-offs for additional qualification spots. For Vietnam, the minimum objective is clear: they must aim to progress beyond the group stage. Achieving this goal would keep alive the dream of returning to the Women’s World Cup and further confirm the steady growth of Vietnamese women’s football on the Asian and global stage.
Trang Minh
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