Less than three years on from their maiden appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Vietnam return to a tournament hosted by Australia dreaming of a return to the global showpiece in Brazil next year.
Although, technically, they don’t actually return to Australia at all, because they never visited in the first place, playing all three of their Group E games in New Zealand during the tournament in 2023.
So while there are lessons to be learned from the experience of 2023, the experience of playing a major tournament in Australia will be a new one for them, and it’s one they’re increasingly getting excited for with kick-off now less than two weeks away.
With the team in camp for the past few weeks under the watchful eye of legendary coach Mai Đức Chung, leading striker Huỳnh Như explained to The Asian Game the extended period together before the tournament is invaluable for building cohesion.
“At the moment, the whole team is in a very positive spirit,” the 34-year-old explained in an exclusive interview with The Asian Game.
“The recent training camps and warm-up matches have helped us improve our fitness, tactics, and team cohesion. As the tournament gets closer, the excitement is definitely growing, but at the same time, we remain very focused and responsible.
“The Women’s Asian Cup is a major tournament, so we are taking our preparation very seriously.”
Results, however, have been patchy. A 1-0 win over Uzbekistan was followed by a 6-2 loss to the same opponent, while a pair of friendlies against China over the past week returned 2-0 and 6-1 defeats. But it’s also hard to know how much should be read into friendly games in which experimentation and preparation is the name of the game, more so than results.
Looking further back, however, the trend for women’s football in Vietnam has been more positive. The Golden Star Women Warriors have always been one of the leading nations in Southeast Asia, and only narrowly missed out on a fifth straight Gold Medal at last year’s Southeast Asian Games, losing to the Philippines on penalties.
Such losses in official fixtures have been few and far between, with Huỳnh confident they can carry that momentum into the tournament.
“Recently, (we’ve) had good preparation and maintained consistency in our performances,” she said.
“The most important things for us are team unity, discipline, and focus in every training session and match. I believe that if the whole team keeps the right mindset and strong desire to perform, we can carry that form into the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup.”
Having reached the quarter-finals back in 2022, losing 3-1 to eventual champions China, despite taking an early lead, reaching the same stage again is the benchmark in 2026, although it won’t be easy in a group with Japan, India and Chinese Taipei.
But with the way the tournament is structured, and with six spots up for grabs for next year’s Women’s World Cup, a repeat World Cup appearance is very much on the cards.
Not only do the four semi-finalists qualify directly for Brazil 2027, the four losing quarter-finalists will enter a sudden-death playoff to determine the final two spots, increasing the odds of qualification.
It means if you get through the group stage there is a double chance at making the Women’s World Cup, with only two of the eight nations missing out.
Huỳnh insists, however, they aren’t looking any further ahead than the opening game against India, which will go a long way to determining who will finish second in the group, with Japan expected to comfortably top the group.
“Our immediate goal is to take the tournament one match at a time and achieve the best possible results,” the Ho Chi Minh City striker said.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is always a big dream and motivation for us, but we understand that the key is to focus on each specific match at the Women’s Asian Cup.
But, with all that said, she is also still human and can’t help but dream of a second shot at the Women’s World Cup, which at 36, as she would be in Brazil, would almost certainly be her last.
The Southeast Asian nation were dealt a raw hand in 2023, drawn alongside powerhouse nations such as the Netherlands and the United States, as well as fellow debutants, Portugal.
While they suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Dutch in their final group game, their valiant effort in the opener against the United States, ‘only’ losing 3-0, earned plenty of plaudits.
There were fears leading into the game in Auckland of a blowout similar to Thailand’s 13-0 hammering to the USA in 2019, but the result and the scoreline restored some pride for Southeast Asia on the global stage.
Reflecting on that tournament almost three years on, Huỳnh said the chance to play at a World Cup was a ‘dream come true.’
“The 2023 Women’s World Cup was a very special experience for both myself and the team,” she said.
“Playing against the world’s top teams taught us a lot about pace, physicality, and tactical awareness. Taking part in a World Cup was truly a dream come true.
“The lessons and memories from that tournament will help us grow and be more confident heading into the Women’s Asian Cup.”
Having Mai Đức Chung at the helm will no doubt give them a boost, too. The 74-year-old is a legend within Vietnamese football, having been in charge of the side since 2016 and overseeing an era of success.
But he wasn’t meant to be here. Firstly after the Women’s World Cup, and then again after the Southeast Asian Games, the veteran had planned to retire. On both occasions, however, he was talked into staying on.
It seems almost certain this will be his last Women’s Asian Cup, however, and Huỳnh reflected on his impact on this team over many years.
“Coach Mai Đức Chung is a very special figure in Vietnamese women’s football,” the veteran striker explained.
“He has a lot of experience, understands his players well, and knows how to balance discipline with care. He not only teaches us about football but also instills belief and a strong fighting spirit for the national team.”
Like her coach, Huỳnh is now in the twilight of her career, now back playing in her native Vietnam for Ho Chi Minh City after making history as the first Vietnamese women player to play professionally in Europe.
That came during a spell Vilaverdense in Portugal that she says was invaluable, even at the tail end of her career.
“My time playing in Portugal was a very valuable experience,” she explained.
“Competing in a more professional and high-intensity environment helped me improve my football mindset, physical condition, and confidence. Those experiences have helped me grow as a player and contribute more to the national team.”
Now back with Ho Chi Minh City, where she has spent her entire career otherwise, beyond the Women’s Asian Cup she is looking forward to the knockout rounds of the AFC Women’s Champions League, where Ho Chi Minh City will take on North Korean outfit Naegohyang in just over a month.
It won’t be easy given the prowess of North Korea in women’s football, but just making it this far is a sign, Huỳnh says, of the development of women’s football in Vietnam.
“Ho Chi Minh City reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Champions League reflects the clear progress of women’s football in Vietnam,” she said.
“Over the past five to ten years, there has been significant development in terms of quality, training conditions, and public attention. I believe that with continued support and investment, Vietnamese women’s football will continue to grow strongly in the future.”
Listen to From Dreams to Goals as we discuss the big issues ahead of kick-off of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup
