Pathway to the World Cup

The tournament will take place from March 1 to 21 in Australia. Following the Lunar New Year break, the squad will regroup before heading to the competition.

As in previous editions, the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup will serve as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For Vietnam to return to the world’s biggest stage in 2027, a strong result at the continental championship is required.

Four years ago, Vietnam secured a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after defeating Chinese Taipei 2-1 in a decisive play-off. Supporters now expect head coach Mai Duc Chung and his players to deliver a similar achievement.

According to FIFA, Asia has been allocated six direct berths for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and two intercontinental play-off spots. With Brazil as host, all six direct Asian places will be decided through the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.

Under AFC regulations, the four semi-finalists will qualify directly. Two additional teams will secure direct berths through Asian play-offs, while the two play-off losers will advance to the intercontinental play-off round.

The tournament features 12 teams divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group progress to the quarter-finals. Quarter-final winners advance to the semi-finals, while the losing quarter-finalists enter the play-offs. Reaching the quarter-finals is therefore the minimum requirement for teams seeking a pathway to the World Cup.

Six of the direct World Cup places are widely expected to include five of Asia’s leading sides – the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) , Japan, China, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Australia,  leaving one direct berth to be contested among teams such as Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, the Philippines and India.

Vietnam have been drawn in Group C alongside Japan, India and Chinese Taipei. Securing a quarter-final place is the immediate objective before pursuing further ambitions.

Why 2026 Women’s Asian Cup is crucial for Vietnam

Beyond the World Cup, the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup also serves as the first stage of qualification for women’s football at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Only the eight quarter-finalists will remain eligible to compete for Olympic qualification. Asia has been allocated 2.5 places at Los Angeles 2028.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups and play home-and-away round-robin matches, six games each. The two group winners will qualify directly for the Olympics. The two runners-up will face each other, with the winner advancing to an intercontinental play-off against a South American representative. The Asian Olympic qualifiers are scheduled during FIFA international windows in 2027.

While Olympic qualification remains a major challenge for Vietnam, reaching the final qualifying stage would provide valuable continental-level competition for Mai Duc Chung’s team.

Failure to do so would likely limit Vietnam’s major competitions in 2027 to regional events such as the SEA Games and the ASEAN Women’s Championship.

Results in Australia will therefore shape Vietnam’s competitive pathway in 2027. A strong campaign would ensure continued participation at continental and global levels, in line with Vietnam’s ambition to compete beyond Southeast Asia.

Thailand’s recent experience, failing to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup and subsequently missing major opportunities, is a scenario Vietnam is determined to avoid.

A positive performance at the 2026 tournament would enhance Vietnam’s prospects on the international stage and provide a strong start to the Lunar Year of Binh Ngo 2026 for Vietnamese sport.

Vietnam only SEA country with men’s and women’s football teams at ASIAD 2026

VOV.VN - Vietnam will be the only Southeast Asian nation to compete in both men’s and women’s football at the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD), following confirmation from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).