Hai Yen determined to realise World Cup dream in FIFA interview

According to FIFA, Hai Yen had scored eight goals in two appearances to secure Vietnam a place at the continental competition in India, finishing as the leading scorer in the qualification stage, three goals clear of the Republic of Korea’s Moon Mira.

“Of course, the Women’s Asian Cup is a test for us,” Yen told FIFA.com.

“My targets for this campaign are simple: try to help my team win games in order to qualify for the Women’s World Cup for the first time,” she added.

FIFA.com reports, the top-five finishers at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will advance to the Women’s World Cup in Australia, with another two teams going into the inter-confederation play-offs. With Australia already granted an automatic berth as hosts, it means that participating teams in the continental tournament have enhanced hopes.

“I think the chances for the contenders have been increased, and that includes us," Yen noted, "Therefore, I will try my best to make it with my team. The Women's World Cup is every player's dream and all I want is to realise it.”

FIFA.com says the determined youngster has made notable progress in recent years, earning her first professional contract with Hanoi in 2011. From there, Yen’s career took off with the side from the capital as she finished as top scorer of the Vietnamese Women's National Championship’s four times, in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

According to the website, at international level Yen has scored 30 goals from 44 caps across 11 years. She singles out the tournament-winning goal she scored against Thailand in the final of the 2019 SEA Games as her most memorable strike. The two sides were locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, but two minutes into the injury time, Yen rose to the occasion as she latched on to a free-kick to seal victory for Vietnam.