Ninh Binh, 12 Nov 2026 – Vietnam earned 2.35 FIFA ranking points following their 2-0 victory over Chinese Taipei on November 11, increasing their total to 1,233.64 points. However, Kim Sang-sik’s side remain 99th in the world as they prepare for their next international friendly against Kyrgyzstan.
Vietnam secured a comfortable victory over Chinese Taipei at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh, with Olaha Manh Duc and Dinh Bac scoring the goals. According to updated FIFA ranking calculations, the result lifted Vietnam’s points total from 1,231.29 to 1,233.64. However, the increase was relatively small because Chinese Taipei entered the match ranked 176th in the world, 77 places below Vietnam.
Despite the modest improvement, the victory provided a welcome boost for Kim Sang-sik’s team following a difficult period in which several results had affected their international ranking. Vietnam remain inside the world’s top 100, although their position has not changed following the latest win.
Vietnam will have another opportunity to improve their ranking when they face Kyrgyzstan on November 17 in their final match of the 2026 international friendly tournament. A victory against the Central Asian side could deliver a greater points increase than the win over Chinese Taipei, helping Vietnam strengthen their position among the world’s top 100 national teams.
The latest result also helped Vietnam recover some of the ranking points lost during the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Earlier in the competition, the team earned 3.67 points after defeating the Philippines 1-0 and another 1.80 points following a 4-2 victory over Pakistan. Those gains were subsequently wiped out by consecutive defeats against Thailand and Malaysia, which cost Vietnam a combined 11.20 points.
A 2-0 defeat to Thailand resulted in a deduction of 4.87 points, while a 1-0 loss to Malaysia in the third-place playoff cost the team another 6.33 points. The setbacks highlighted how defeats against regional opponents can affect Vietnam’s standing, making consistent results an important part of their efforts to climb the FIFA rankings.
Beyond the ranking points, the victory over Chinese Taipei also brought encouraging individual performances. Olaha Manh Duc marked his senior international debut with a goal, while defender Thanh Chung impressed in his first appearance as Vietnam’s captain. Both players received praise from head coach Kim Sang-sik after the match.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate Olaha Manh Duc. It was his first match, and he scored a goal,” Kim said. “Congratulations also to Thanh Chung. It was his first time serving as captain, and he organised the defence very well.”
The South Korean coach will now turn his attention to Vietnam’s upcoming encounter with Kyrgyzstan, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. on November 17 at Thien Truong Stadium. The match will provide another opportunity to assess his squad, build confidence and secure additional ranking points.
For Vietnam, maintaining a place in the FIFA top 100 remains an important objective. While the victory over Chinese Taipei did not produce a significant rise in the rankings, another positive result against Kyrgyzstan could help Kim Sang-sik’s side build momentum ahead of their next competitive international fixtures.
VSN/RPT
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