VFF nominated for fourth straight AFC Diamond Award

Announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on October 16, this year's shortlist once again pits the VFF against familiar rivals China and Thailand. The three associations also featured in the Diamond category in the previous two editions, with Thailand winning the award on both occasions.

The AFC divides the Member Association of the Year awards into four tiers: Platinum, Diamond, Gold and Ruby. Platinum is the highest tier, with Japan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia nominated this year. Hong Kong, India and Malaysia are shortlisted in the Gold category, while Bangladesh, Guam and Laos are nominated in Ruby.

The tiered structure reflects the AFC's approach of recognising associations within their respective categories rather than placing all nominees on a single ranking. The VFF's Diamond nomination must therefore be considered in the context of football development and governance, rather than judged solely on international results.

The VFF's recent nomination history highlights its consistent presence among the Diamond contenders, although it has yet to win the award under the current system.

At the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022, held in Qatar on October 31, 2023, the VFF was shortlisted alongside Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan. Lebanon ultimately won the Diamond award, while Uzbekistan claimed the Platinum title.

At the AFC Annual Awards Seoul 2023, held in the Republic of Korea on October 29, 2024, the VFF again competed against China and Thailand. Thailand took the Diamond award, while Japan won in the Platinum category. At the same ceremony, the VFF also received the AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football in the Bronze category, a separate honour.

At the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025 in Saudi Arabia, the Diamond contest once again came down to Vietnam, China and Thailand. The Football Association of Thailand retained the title, securing consecutive wins. The VFF was also nominated for the Bronze category of the AFC President's Recognition Award for Grassroots Football, but Bangladesh took the honour.

Before the AFC introduced its current four-tier structure, Vietnamese football achieved a notable milestone when the VFF won the Member Association of the Year award in the Developing category in 2017.

At the time, the awards were divided into three categories: Inspiring, Developing and Aspiring. Iran won the Inspiring category, while Afghanistan received the Aspiring award.

The 2017 victory remains an important example of the AFC recognising the VFF with a major award. However, as the award structure and categories have since changed, that achievement should be viewed in its historical context rather than treated as directly equivalent to the current Diamond title.

The AFC Awards 2026 will give the VFF another opportunity to end its run of consecutive nominations without a Diamond victory. The ceremony is scheduled for November 19 at the Aksra Theatre King Power in Bangkok, Thailand, where the outcome of the contest between Vietnam, China and Thailand will be decided.

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