Know your team: Vietnam
Vietnam will be counting on a solid qualifying campaign to power them at the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™.
The Southeast Asian side were peerless in Group E of the Qualifiers and will aim to carry their form into the Finals.
Factfile:
FIFA World Ranking: 37
Head Coach: Mai Duc Chung (VIE)
How they got there: Qualifiers Group E winners
Previous appearances: 9
Best placing: Quarter Finals
2022 Result: Quarter Finals
Fun fact: Vietnam will be making a 10th successive appearance at the AFC Women's Asian Cup™.
While Vietnam have appeared in the Finals of every edition since making their debut in 1999, success has eluded them.
They have progressed from the group stage only twice - in 2014 and the last edition hosted by India.
A sixth-placed finish in 2014 meant missing out on FIFA Women's World Cup qualification but Vietnam finally ended their wait to appear on the global stage eight years later by emerging tops in the playoffs.
Qualification was achieved despite initial fears that Vietnam would have to withdraw from India 2022 after the majority of the squad was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak during their training camp in Spain.
Their debut at the global showpiece ended with three defeats in the group stage but the experience gained playing against the likes of the United States, Portugal and Netherlands is something Vietnam will look to build on at the AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Mai Duc Chung - back as head coach after having stepped down following the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 - said Vietnam's main target at Australia 2026 will be to qualify for the next edition of the global showpiece in 2027.
“Football always has surprises, but in our hearts we all have hope of participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. I hope the players continue to strive, improve every day, and create a breakthrough,” said Duc Chung.
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