The past year stands as one of the most successful in Vietnam's modern football history.

The men’s national team triumphed at the ASEAN Cup, the U23s claimed the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the year concluded with a euphoric victory at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.

These weren’t isolated wins - they reflected a systematic and sustainable rise in Vietnamese football.

Historic milestone: 7 national teams reach Asian finals

The biggest headline is that seven Vietnamese national teams have qualified for the final rounds of Asian competitions in 2026 - an unprecedented achievement.

The list spans from women’s and men’s futsal, the senior women’s team, to age-group teams like U23, U17 men and women, and the U20 women’s team.

These qualifications came not just through narrow margins, but through commanding performances against strong continental opponents - underscoring the depth of talent and the effectiveness of a synchronized youth development strategy.

The tally could rise to eight teams if coach Kim Sang Sik and the men’s national team secure their ticket to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup during the final qualification stage in March 2026.

Given that Malaysia - Vietnam’s direct rival in the group - faces possible disqualification due to a naturalization scandal, the odds for Vietnam look strong.

Only Vietnam and Japan achieved this in 2025

Among Southeast Asian nations, Vietnam stands alone in reaching this level of comprehensive qualification in 2025. Across Asia, only Japan matched this feat.

Even more impressive, most Vietnamese teams qualified with perfect winning records, demonstrating technical stability and mental fortitude.

From regional dominance to continental goals

With 2025’s golden achievements behind them, Vietnamese football no longer views regional victories as the final destination.

Now, the focus shifts to breaking new ground in Asia’s top-tier tournaments - where the real test of scale and ambition awaits.

From Saudi Arabia to Japan, from indoor futsal arenas to sprawling stadiums, Vietnamese players will be looking not just to participate, but to compete, challenge, and win.

Thien Binh