AFC’s recent draw for the 2026 Asian Cup Women’s Football Qualifying tournament placed the Vietnamese women’s national team in a favorable group, boosting their chances of reaching the final stage.
Easy Opponents, Bright Prospects
On March 27th, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw for the 2026 Asian Cup Women’s Qualifying round. The Vietnamese women’s team will face Guam, UAE, and Maldives in their group.
FIFA rankings show Vietnam ranked 37th (6th in Asia), significantly ahead of Guam (96th), UAE (112th), and Maldives (163rd). The matches will be played at the Việt Trì Stadium in Phú Thọ province, providing an added home-ground advantage for the Vietnamese team.
Coach Mai Đức Chung’s Assessment
Coach Mai Đức Chung noted that while Vietnam defeated Maldives in the 2022 Asian Cup qualifiers, the overall development of Asian women’s football is impressive. Therefore, the team will approach each opponent with the utmost respect and not take them lightly.
Regarding the UAE, he observed their strength in athleticism, particularly among their foreign-based players. Guam, meanwhile, is a relatively new opponent for Vietnam.
Tournament Structure and Goals
The 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers feature 34 teams divided into 8 groups. Teams will compete in a round-robin format, and the top 8 teams in each group, along with host nation Australia, and the 3 best-performing teams from the 2022 edition (China, Japan, and South Korea) will advance to the final tournament.
The top six teams at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will have the opportunity to compete in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Preparation for Qualifying
The Vietnamese women’s team is scheduled to hold training camps in May to prepare for the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Mai Đức Chung and his coaching staff will carefully select the best players from the U19 women’s and national cup competitions to prepare for the SEA Games 33 later this year.
Conclusion
With a favorable group, the Vietnamese women’s national team is expected to secure a spot in the 2026 Asian Cup finals and aim for even greater achievements in the future. Thorough preparation and unwavering dedication will be crucial for their journey.
