Ho Chi Minh City women’s FC to experience new technology from AFC

Ho Chi Minh City, 25 September, 2025 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the upcoming Women’s Asian Champions League 2025/2026 will feature the debut of a groundbreaking technology: Football Video Support (FVS). The tournament is set to kick off in November, with Ho Chi Minh City Women representing Vietnam and hosting one of the group stages at Thong Nhat Stadium from November 13 to 19.

FVS is described as a simplified version of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Unlike VAR, which requires additional referees in a video operations room, FVS will be implemented directly within matches and can be accessed by teams through a “challenge” mechanism. This marks the first time such a system is officially used at a continental women’s football competition in Asia, after FIFA previously tested it in several youth tournaments.

Under the FVS system, each team will be allowed two opportunities per match to request a review of controversial decisions involving goals, penalties, or red cards. If the challenge proves correct, the team retains the right to challenge again. If the request is unsuccessful, the team loses one of its two opportunities.

This format mirrors video challenge systems already familiar in other sports such as volleyball, badminton, and tennis, and is intended to enhance fairness without overly disrupting the flow of the game. By empowering teams to take initiative in contesting key decisions, AFC hopes FVS will reduce controversy and promote transparency.

In an official statement, AFC emphasized that the technology will be used in all matches of the Women’s Asian Champions League 2025/2026 starting from the group stage. The governing body described this as an important step forward for the women’s game in Asia, combining technological innovation with the growing professionalism of the competition.

For Ho Chi Minh City Women, the introduction of FVS adds another layer of intrigue to their campaign. The reigning Vietnamese champions will compete in Group A on home soil at Thong Nhat Stadium. With the passionate local support expected in the stands and the ability to call upon FVS for contentious moments, coach Doan Thi Kim Chi and her players could benefit from both familiarity and fairness in officiating.

The group stage of the Women’s Asian Champions League 2025/2026 will run from November 9 to 23 across three host countries: Vietnam, Myanmar, and China. AFC has confirmed that the innovative FVS system will be deployed consistently at all venues, providing a uniform standard for every team involved.

As anticipation builds, the tournament not only represents an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City Women to replicate or surpass last season’s semifinal run, but also a chance for Asian football to pioneer a new model of video support that could eventually influence the global game.

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