Vietnam's decline in rankings

In February 2023, when Coach Park Hang Seo's contract ended, Vietnam was ranked 95th out of 210 teams in the FIFA rankings. 

However, just over a year later, the team has fallen to 115th, following a series of defeats under Coach Philippe Troussier (February 2023 - March 2024).

During this period, Vietnam's national team has faced losses in the Asian Cup, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and several international friendlies, contributing to their decline in the FIFA rankings.

The drop in rankings is particularly disheartening, considering the hard work and dedication of Coach Park Hang Seo and his players to break into the top 100. Unfortunately, this achievement has been undone within a year under coach Troussier, leading to a crisis in team morale and belief.

Many wonder if the situation would be different had coach Park Hang Seo remained in charge. Given his experience and strategic planning, it is likely that he would have maintained Vietnam's position within the top 100. Coach Park's careful selection of friendly matches against moderate opponents, rather than facing stronger teams like China, Uzbekistan, or Korea, might have prevented the sharp decline.

However, maintaining or improving upon past successes would not have been easy even for voach Park. His decision to step down after five years of leading the team reflects an understanding of the limitations both he and the team faced.

Challenges beyond coaching

Several factors have contributed to the team's decline, including player injuries, aging veterans, and a lack of progress among the younger generation. 

Additionally, the quality of professional tournaments in Vietnam remains average, with moderate competition and clubs lacking professionalism, further impacting the national team's performance.

While coach Park Hang Seo might have slowed the decline, achieving continued progress or even maintaining past successes would have been challenging. The stagnation in Vietnamese football, coupled with evolving opponents, presents significant obstacles.

Coach Park Hang Seo's departure marked the end of a golden era for Vietnam's national team. Although he might have managed to keep the team within the top 100, the underlying issues within Vietnamese football require broader reforms to ensure sustainable progress.

Duy Nguyen