If professional challenges have been identified through recent tournaments, then structural issues in development could be the key factor directly impacting the team's future.
In the two most recent tournaments, the SEA Games 33 and the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship finals, the Vietnamese futsal team failed to meet expectations, forcing the team to "reinvent" itself.
Although not significantly inferior to major regional rivals, the lack of consistency and inability to reach the final matches shows that Vietnamese futsal is stagnating.
Coach Diego Giustozzi, who once brought expectations of tactical and tactical change, now faces pressure to deliver concrete results. The early finalization of the squad shows stability in the lineup, but also reflects the reality that there aren't many new options capable of creating a breakthrough.
In the group stage of the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, the Vietnamese futsal team is in the same group as host nation Thailand, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. Recent matches against Thailand have shown that Vietnam can create pressure, but still lacks sharpness in crucial moments.
This is the biggest difference between a team that can cause difficulties and a team that is capable of winning. Therefore, theoretically, the second semi-final spot will be a competition between Vietnam and Myanmar, with their direct confrontation being decisive.
If they advance further, Vietnam will most likely face Indonesia – the team that is currently the strongest rising force in the region.
Reaching the final of the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship is not only a landmark achievement but also reflects the comprehensive transformation of Indonesian futsal. Meanwhile, if they face Australia, they will also be a formidable opponent. Their improvements in physical fitness and organization make them a dangerous dark horse.
One of the less-discussed but far-reaching factors is the development structure of Vietnamese futsal over the past several years.
In reality, Vietnamese futsal relies too heavily on sponsorship from Thai Son Group, which plays a key role in maintaining and developing the sport.
Thai Son Nam Club has almost "dominated" the domestic league for a long time (14 championships in 18 years of organization), thereby creating an imbalance in competition. When a football ecosystem depends too much on one resource, diversity and natural development momentum are limited. Even more worrying is the perception of unfairness in management.
The incidents involving the youth team of Thai Son club, including suspected match-fixing, which were not adequately addressed, have created a sense of skepticism among futsal clubs. When disciplinary decisions are unclear or lack deterrent effect, the confidence of other teams is severely affected.
As a result, many clubs and players have become discouraged, lacking the motivation to invest and develop. This not only affects the quality of the national championship but also directly impacts the supply of players for the national team.
The current Vietnamese national team still relies heavily on familiar faces, while the next generation has yet to make a real impact.
The lack of competition at the club level means players aren't challenged enough before stepping onto the international stage. Meanwhile, rivals like Thailand and Indonesia have diverse, highly competitive league systems that are less reliant on a single source of resources.
This is the foundation that helps them maintain and improve the quality of the team. Therefore, the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship is not just about achieving results, but also an opportunity for Vietnamese futsal to reflect on itself. A good result might alleviate immediate pressure, but it cannot mask the structural problems.
What is needed is a long-term development strategy in which increasing the competitiveness of the clubs is a key element. The Vietnamese futsal team enters the Southeast Asian arena in 2026 with a clear goal, but the road ahead is far from smooth.
The pressure to perform, fierce competition from rivals, and intertwined internal issues create a comprehensive challenge. In this context, success is not only measured by whether or not a team reaches the final, but also by how they overcome their own limitations.
More broadly, it's about the ability of the entire Vietnamese futsal scene to adjust its direction so as not to fall behind in the increasingly fierce regional competition.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/ap-luc-bai-toan-phat-trien-post952329.html
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