The target was highlighted at the first 2026 meeting of the National Coaches Council, held at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation on March 24.

The meeting was attended by VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan and Vice President Tran Anh Tu, along with key members of the council, including chairman Nguyen Sy Hien and vice chairman Mai Duc Chung.

In the first quarter of 2026, the National Coaches Council worked closely with VFF departments to implement key priorities, particularly in coaching education. Training programmes for C, B and A licenses under Asian Football Confederation standards were expanded nationwide, alongside efforts to strengthen the pool of qualified instructors, including FIFA-certified coaches.

The council also provided technical support to national teams across all levels, from senior squads to youth teams and women’s football. Members actively engaged with clubs and national setups to enhance coordination between grassroots development and elite competition.

Vietnamese football recorded encouraging results in early 2026, notably the U23 team securing a bronze medal at the AFC U23 Championship after defeating the Republic of Korea. Youth teams and futsal squads have maintained regular training and competition schedules.

However, participants stressed the need to restructure women’s football to build a stronger long-term foundation.

Discussions at the meeting also focused on improving the quality of coaching staff for national teams, ensuring continuity in developing domestic coaches while integrating modern training methods.

VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan affirmed that Vietnamese football continues to develop steadily at both national team and grassroots levels. The presence of eight Vietnamese teams at Asian-level tournaments reflects a comprehensive development strategy.

Looking ahead, he said, the VFF would intensify coach training, apply science and technology in training and competition, and accelerate squad rejuvenation, particularly for the women’s team.

The ultimate goal is to enhance competitiveness at regional and continental levels, secure a place among the world’s top 100 teams in the FIFA rankings, and qualify for future World Cup tournaments, he said.

FIFA rankings: Vietnam climb 5 places after securing Asian Cup place

VOV.VN - Vietnam have risen five places to 103rd in the latest FIFA rankings after a 3–0 victory over Malaysia in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, as the world governing body introduced real-time updates during the March FIFA international window.