Vietnamese men’s national football team sets ambitious goals for 2025
VOV.VN - After enduring a difficult year, the Vietnamese men’s national football is set to bounce back by competing in many tournaments which are due to be held in 2025, with fans expectant fans hopeful of a change in fortunes.
Back in May the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) signed a two-year contract with coach Kim Sang Sik from the Republic of Korea to take over as head coach of the Vietnamese men's national football team and the U23 team.
The VFF expressed their belief that coach Kim, the 11th foreign manager to take charge of the national team, would build an effective playing style to bring success.
The federation had set a goal of the national team qualifying for the final of the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electronic Cup, with this mission already completed after Vietnam under the leadership of Kim secured a slot in the ASEAN tournament's final round.
In 2025, the U22 football team and the senior football team are aiming to win tickets to reach the semi-final round of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the final round of the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, respectively.
Furthermore, the qualification stage of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup is due to run from March, 2025, to March, 2026, with Vietnam in Group F with Malaysia, Laos, and Nepal.
With the Vietnam national team ranked at 116th globally, Malaysia, ranked at 132nd in the world, are considered to be the strongest rivals in the group. Indeed, they have caused plenty of difficulties for previous Vietnamese sides in recent competitions.
Previously, Vietnam progressed through to the Asian Cup’s final round in 2019 and 2023. Their best result is making it through to the tournament’s quarter-final stage back in 2019.
Vietnam will continue to keep an eyes on the 2025 SEA Games which will take place from December 7 to December 19 and are hoping to make the final round of the men’s football competition.
This comes after local footballers won a gold medal in the SEA Games’ men football in 2019 and 2021, before bagging a bronze medal in 2023. Taking a gold medal in Thailand, the hosts of the 2025 SEA Games, will not be an easy for Vietnam and it needs great effort from the whole team.
Coach Kim has so far had a great impact on the team's tactics in recent matches, with Kim's leadership giving fans reason to hope.
Vietnamese players have begun to regain their confidence and enthusiasm, whilst support from fans’ will surely be the motivation for footballers to reap success in the coming time.
