Vietnam's futsal team gear up for 2026 Asian qualifiers
The roster blends seasoned veterans with young talents, promising fierce competition for places.
Vietnam's national futsal team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 before travelling to Kuwait for training from September 9 to 14. (Photo: VFF)
Hanoi (VNA)🐽 – Head coach Diego Giustozzi has announced a 20-player squad for the Vietnamese national futsal team as they begin preparations for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said on August 15.
The roster blends seasoned veterans with young talents, promising fierce competition for places. Two players have earned their first senior call-ups: goalkeeper Chau Thach Khanh Cuong of Thai Son Nam HCM City and Nguyen Quoc Giau of Ho Chi Minh City Youth FC.
Core members include experienced campaigners such as goalkeeper Pham Van Tu, and players Pham Duc Hoa, Nguyen Manh Dung and Chau Doan Phat.
Rising talents such as Tran Quang Nguyen, Trinh Cong Dai, Vu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Da Hai – the Best Player of the 2025 National Futsal Cup – have also been retained.
A notable absentee is veteran goalkeeper Ho Van Y, who is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and will be sidelined for at least six months.
The team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 before travelling to Kuwait for training from September 9 to 14, including two friendlies against Kuwait on September 11 and 13. They will then head to China for the qualifiers.
The 2026 qualifiers feature 31 teams in eight groups. The eight group winners and the seven best runners-up will join hosts Indonesia in the finals in January 2026. Vietnam are in Group E with Lebanon, China and Hong Kong (China), facing Hong Kong on September 20, China on September 22, and Lebanon on September 24./.
Vietnam join other prominent teams in the top seed group, including Iran, Thailand, Japan, Kuwait and Iraq. Being ranked in this group allows the team to avoid tough opponents in the group stage, significantly enhancing their chances of securing a spot in the final round.
The Southeast Asian side has already defeated Hong Kong (China) 5-3 and the Philippines 3-0 in their first two tournament matches at the Hohhot Sports Centre.
Vietnam will face Iran in their final group stage match on May 11, and the result of this match will determine Vietnam's opponent in the quarterfinals.
Thanh affirmed that the organisation of the art programme right at the August Revolution Square not only honoured the glorious history, patriotism, and revolutionary spirit, but also sent a strong message about the will of self-reliance, the desire for development, and the determination to continue the heroic tradition.
These activities also aim to commemorate the 80th traditional day of the culture sector (August 28, 1945 – 2025), the 80th traditional day of the People’s Public Security Force (August 19, 1945 - 2025), and 80 years since President Ho Chi Minh named General Nguyen Chi Thanh (August 17, 1945–2025).
The East zone draw placed Hanoi Police in Group E together with Beijing FC (China), Macarthur FC (Australia) and Tai Po FC (Hong Kong, China). Nam Dinh landed in Group F alongside Gamba Osaka (Japan), Ratchaburi FC (Thailand) and Eastern FC (Hong Kong, China).
Vietnam remains committed to a comprehensive approach to human rights, balancing civil and political rights with economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights. The Government consistently respects and protects citizens’ right to freedom of religion and belief while focusing on the development of ethnic minority regions to ensure equality, inclusion, and "no one left behind.”
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese reported that so far this year, ministries and localities have hosted numerous events honouring the Vietnamese language, while overseas communities have actively contributed to initiatives to promote its teaching and learning.
The tourism and railway sectors are suggested to jointly develop new products such as charter tourist trains, themed carriages showcasing regional culture and cuisine, and routes connecting heritage sites, festivals, and interregional destinations.
LION Championship 25 will take place at Cam Ranh Square in south-central Khanh Hoa province, at 20:00 on August 16, featuring two of the most anticipated title fights of the 2025 season.
Under the agreement signed with Bundesliga International, TV360 will deliver all 306 matches each season of Germany’s top-tier football league to Vietnamese audiences.
As Vietnam prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), a series of grand art programmess are taking centre stage across the nation, connecting millions of Vietnamese hearts.
The music video “Nguyen the vi binh yen” (Oath for Peace), composed by famous Nguyen Van Chung and presented by young singer Nguyen Duyen Quynh, would strike a deep chord with viewers, serving as a heartfelt tribute to the People’s Public Security force and all those dedicated themselves to Vietnam’s peace.
The work is the product of French writer-photographer Dominique de Miscault and Vietnamese cultural scholar Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha. More than a conventional album, it weaves three decades of images into an emotional journey through Vietnam’s Northern, Central, and Southern regions.
With the victory, Vietnam finished the group stage with a perfect score of nine points, overtaking Thailand to claim the top spot in Group A and set up a semifinal clash as group leaders.
Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung and his Korean counterpart Chae Hwi Young co-chaired a Vietnam – Republic of Korea (RoK) dialogue on cultural industry cooperation in Seoul on August 11, as part of the ongoing state visit by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse.
Thailand led the game first with two sets 25 – 17 and 26–24. But Vietnam, fueled by smart tactics and home support, roared back to win the next three sets 25 – 17, 25 – 22, and 16–14, sealing a dramatic 3–2 victory.
Vietnam claimed a dominant 7-0 victory over Indonesia in their second Group A match at the 2025 AFF Women’s Championship at Lach Tray stadium in Hai Phong on August 9, moving one step closer to a spot in the semifinals.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Secretary of the Central Military Commission To Lam attended the event in Hanoi, while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man were present the event in Hue and in Ho Chi Minh City, respectively.
The World Police Band Concert - Vietnam 2025 is an important opportunity to enhance cultural and artistic exchanges and mutual understanding between Vietnam’s public security force and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Young people are no longer seeing heritage as something distant. They are actively engaging with it, for example, photographing it, performing it, and making it part of their everyday creative expression.
Demonstrating their superior form, the Thai women’s team cruised to a straight-sets victory, winning 25–16, 25–16, and 25–21. With this result, Thailand remains unbeaten across both legs of the tournament so far.
