AFC sends a special message to Vietnamese football

The Asian Football Confederation believes that Vietnamese football had a very successful and emotional year in 2025.

The official fanpage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently posted the message: "An emotional year for Vietnamese Football," honoring the brilliant achievements we reached in 2025. This year marked outstanding success at all levels, from the national team to youth squads, confirming our leading position in the region and strong progress on the continental stage.

At the start of 2025, the Men's National Team made history by winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup with an unbeaten streak of 8 matches. The convincing victory against arch-rivals Thailand on their home turf in the final showcased the resilience of the "Golden Star Warriors." Despite being in a transitional phase and facing pressure from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the Southeast Asian championship remains a solid foundation for the new development cycle.

The brightest highlight of the year was the strength of the youth teams. The Vietnam U22/U23 team set a record by winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship for the third consecutive time and securing the Gold Medal at SEA Games 33. These victories not only brought titles but also proved the spirit of perseverance and the coaching staff's wisdom during the toughest moments.

Women's football and futsal also contributed shining chapters to history. The women's national team excellently qualified for the 2026 Asian Cup with a perfect winning record. Notably, the women's futsal team made history by winning the Gold Medal at SEA Games 33 for the first time, ending Thailand's long-standing dominance. The significant advances of both men's and women's futsal on the Asian stage confirm the VFF's well-planned investment strategy.

Youth training saw balanced success as Vietnam had seven national teams qualify for the Asian Championship finals during 2025-2026. From the U17 men's to U17 women's and U20 women's teams, all passed the qualifiers convincingly. This clearly demonstrates stability in succession and the right path in building a sustainable foundation for the future.

The year 2025 ended with great pride and international recognition. The tears of joy at the SEA Games, the resilience at the ASEAN Cup, and the efforts of young players created a year full of emotions. With this solid foundation, Vietnamese football is fully confident to aim for new heights at continental finals in 2026, continuing to write glorious chapters for national sports.