Hanoi, 1 Sep 2026 – FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, on behalf of the FIFA delegation, has sent a letter of appreciation to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and its President Tran Quoc Tuan following FIFA’s official visit to Vietnam from August 26 to 27.
In his letter, Grafström expressed his appreciation for the warm, sincere and thoughtful welcome extended to the FIFA delegation by the VFF throughout their stay.
The FIFA Secretary General was particularly impressed by the professional and well-organised arrangements for the visit, as well as the dedication demonstrated by VFF officials and staff.
Grafström also highlighted the significance of the delegation’s meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam. According to the FIFA Secretary General, the discussions provided an important opportunity to exchange views on the sustainable development of Vietnamese football while exploring meaningful opportunities for younger generations.
FIFA Congratulates Vietnam on ASEAN Cup Triumph
Grafström also congratulated the VFF, the national team’s coaching staff and the Vietnam national team following their success in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final.
He praised the Vietnamese players for displaying technical quality, a distinctive playing identity and strong fighting spirit throughout their championship campaign.
According to Grafström, Vietnam’s success reflected the serious investment, extensive preparation and determination being devoted to raising the overall level of football in the country.
Vietnam successfully defended their Southeast Asian crown after drawing Thailand 2-2 in the second leg of the final at My Dinh National Stadium. Combined with their 2-0 victory in Bangkok, the result secured a 4-2 aggregate triumph and Vietnam’s fourth regional championship.
The FIFA delegation was also deeply impressed by the passion Vietnamese supporters demonstrated following the victory.
Scenes of thousands of fans taking to the streets to celebrate the ASEAN Cup triumph left a strong impression on the visiting delegation and illustrated football’s extraordinary ability to bring communities together.
PVF Facilities Impress FIFA Delegation
During their visit, FIFA officials also inspected the PVF Youth Football Training Center and PVF Sports Complex.
Grafström spoke highly of the facilities, equipment and long-term development strategy at PVF, describing the project as evidence of Vietnam’s efforts to establish football infrastructure capable of meeting international standards.
The visit also provided FIFA officials with a closer look at Vietnam’s broader ambitions for football development, particularly in youth training and sporting infrastructure.
At the conclusion of his letter, Grafström thanked the VFF, Vietnamese authorities and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of the FIFA delegation’s visit.
He also expressed FIFA’s desire to return to Vietnam in the near future and continue working closely with the VFF on long-term football development projects.
The FIFA Secretary General reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to cooperation aimed at supporting the continued growth of football not only in Vietnam but also across the wider Southeast Asian region.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply