Vietnamese football achieved an impressive string of victories in 2025, winning multiple championships and gold medals across all levels  -  marking one of its most remarkable years to date.

Three Southeast Asian championships in one year

At the very beginning of 2025, the Vietnam national team captured the ASEAN Cup title after an emotional victory against host Thailand.

At the youth level, Vietnam’s U23 team won the ASEAN U23 Championship for the third consecutive time and later qualified for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals.

Capping off a successful year, the U22 team claimed the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games after a stunning comeback win over Thailand in the final match.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), 2025 was considered a pivotal transitional year, laying a strong foundation for restructuring and preparing the national team for its next development phase.

Meanwhile, the U22 and U23 squads continued to receive priority investment from VFF throughout the year. They underwent seven training camps and international tournaments, including high-quality friendly matches in China against top regional opponents such as U23 South Korea, Uzbekistan, and host China.

This extensive preparation helped Vietnam’s youth teams dominate Southeast Asia, securing both the regional championship and the SEA Games gold medal.

VFF noted that these achievements were the result of a scientific, long-term, and well-structured development plan that Vietnamese football has persistently pursued.

Seven national teams qualify for Asian finals

Under the VFF’s strategic direction and targeted investment, Vietnam achieved a milestone by having seven national teams qualify for continental finals during 2025–2026.

This historic achievement highlights the federation’s effective approach in nurturing domestic talent, improving youth training quality, and building a sustainable development roadmap for national teams.

Beyond men’s football, both the men’s and women’s futsal teams, along with the Vietnam women’s national football team, also made their mark in 2025. Notably, the women’s futsal team won its first-ever SEA Games gold medal  -  a historic moment that brought immense pride to fans nationwide.

VFF emphasized that its philosophy of prioritizing domestic player development and youth training, while maintaining a balance between short-term results and long-term goals, has helped Vietnamese football maintain consistency, succession, and competitiveness amid growing regional and continental challenges.

The achievements of 2025 are therefore more than sporting victories  -  they represent a crucial step in consolidating Vietnam’s standing in Southeast Asia and affirming its growing influence and competitiveness in Asian and global football.

Dai Nam