FIFA made a surprising statement about the Vietnam national team, attracting attention from all over Asia.

Vietnamese football ended the year 2025 with an honorable mention from FIFA, recognizing the chain of accomplishments, highlights, and heartfelt images of the teams on the global football map.

On FIFA's official fanpage, the FIFA World Cup page posted a selection of iconic images of Vietnamese football accompanied by a brief message: “Looking back at 2025: Being Vietnamese.” Without lengthy commentary, this post quickly spread widely, becoming a strong affirmation of the status and impact Vietnamese football made throughout a vibrant year of competition.

The images chosen by FIFA fully reflect the colorful picture of Vietnamese football in 2025.

These include moments of male players gathered around the national flag on a stadium filled with passionate fans, scenes of young players celebrating victories in regional tournaments, and touching moments from women's football and futsal teams achieving national goals. These are not only beautiful moments but also the crystallization of concrete achievements.

On the 11-a-side pitch, the Vietnam national team reached a major milestone by winning the 2024 AFF Cup, a title that extended into early 2025 and restored the team's top position in Southeast Asia. This success not only carried the value of the trophy but also opened a year of competition filled with confidence and great attention from fans both domestically and regionally.

In youth football, Vietnam U23 continued to assert its position by clinching the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. This achievement placed Vietnam U23 among the teams considered capable of contending for the title at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, standing alongside the continent's strongest football nations. This prompted international media, especially Chinese press, to express surprise and provide extensive analysis on the progress of Vietnamese football.

Women's football and women's futsal were also bright highlights in 2025. The Vietnam women's futsal team won the gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games, confirming their top regional status with solid play and resilience in decisive matches. Meanwhile, the Vietnam women's national team maintained a stable image, gradually rejuvenating their squad while preserving a fighting spirit often captured in the photos FIFA selected.

On an individual level, 2025 was marked by the impressive comeback of Nguyễn Xuân Sơn. After a long injury period, this striker returned and immediately scored, becoming a symbol of the never-give-up spirit and the depth of Vietnam's football talent pool.

FIFA's deliberate mention of Vietnam was not due to a random moment but rather a recognition of a persistent journey filled with clear achievements, beautiful images, and consistent competitive spirit. As 2025 ends, the mark of Vietnamese football remains strong, just as the simple message FIFA conveyed: “Being Vietnamese.”