On the occasion of the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström sent New Year greetings to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan .
In the letter, the FIFA leader mentioned the sacred moment when the Vietnamese people celebrate the New Year: “On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, billions of people around the world will joyfully welcome the Lunar New Year. We would like to send you (Tran Quoc Tuan) our best wishes on the occasion of the Year of the Horse. May the new year bring you and your family health, wealth, success and much happiness.”
FIFA President and VFF President
PHOTO: VFF
The two FIFA leaders also expressed their desire to meet with VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan again soon and to continue maintaining the cooperative relationship in 2026 - the year of the FIFA World Cup.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström
PHOTO: VFF
VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan currently holds the positions of Member of FIFA's National Team Competitions Committee, Executive Member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Head of AFC Competitions.
The milestones of 2025 and the role of the VFF.
2025 is considered a landmark year for Vietnamese football. The Vietnamese national team won the ASEAN Cup 2024 (AFF Cup 2024) after a 3-2 victory over Thailand in the second leg of the final at the Rajamangala Stadium. This is a significant achievement, boosting the confidence of fans and creating momentum for Vietnamese football in the following year.
Furthermore, the most outstanding highlight of Vietnamese football in 2025 will come from the Vietnam U23 team. In the region, coach Kim Sang-sik's team demonstrated superior strength to win the Southeast Asian Championship in the summer of 2025. In early 2026, this young generation of players performed impressively against strong teams from across the continent such as Saudi Arabia U23, Jordan U23, and South Korea U23, winning a valuable bronze medal at the U23 Asian Championship . Another proud achievement is that all seven Vietnamese national football teams simultaneously qualified for the Asian Championships, demonstrating balanced development and depth of talent at various levels.
Vietnam U23 team to win bronze medal at 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
PHOTO: AFC
In this overall success, the role of the VFF is clearly demonstrated in its sustainable development orientation and focus on youth training. Under the leadership of President Tran Quoc Tuan, the VFF continues to build a long-term foundation for Vietnamese football, while promoting deeper integration with the international football system through the important positions Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan holds at FIFA and AFC.
The goal for 2026 - the year of the World Cup.
As we enter 2026, Vietnamese football faces important goals. The biggest focus for the Vietnamese national team is the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers , with the most notable match being the clash against Malaysia in the final group stage game this March.
Simultaneously, Vietnamese football continues to focus on maintaining the development of youth teams, preparing a successor force for the national team. This is also a crucial period for creating a stable transition between generations of players, ensuring continuity in the development strategy.
2026 is also the year of the World Cup, so cooperation between the VFF and FIFA and AFC is expected to be further strengthened. The New Year's greetings from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström are a positive sign, demonstrating their interest and desire to accompany Vietnamese football on its journey ahead.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-tich-va-tong-thu-ky-fifa-gui-qua-dac-biet-den-chu-tich-vff-tran-quoc-tuan-chuc-tet-tai-loc-18526021614134943.htm
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