Looking back at Vietnamese football in 2025: A wealth of achievements and also some… disappointments.

The year 2025 ended with much joy for Vietnamese football fans, but also with a number of concerns regarding the domestic league.

Many achievements

The biggest highlight for Vietnamese football in 2025 comes from the national teams, especially the U23 Vietnam team. This generation of young players has left a strong impression both professionally and mentally on the continental stage.

It's not just the specific achievements, but the way the Vietnam U23 team demonstrated their mettle against strong opponents from Saudi Arabia, South Korea to Jordan… that truly thrilled the fans.

The Vietnam U23 team contributed to a brilliantly successful year for Vietnamese football.

At the highest level, the Vietnamese national team continues to maintain its consistency with the ASEAN Cup championship earlier this year, and is also hopeful of securing a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Another proud milestone is that all seven Vietnamese national football teams have qualified for the Asian Championships. This achievement reflects the depth of development in the training system, from men's and women's football to youth levels. Regular participation in continental competitions is no longer a "phenomenon," but is gradually becoming a new standard for Vietnamese football.

Besides their overall achievements, the U23 Vietnam team has been showcasing outstanding individuals, giving fans confidence in the bright future of the Vietnamese national team as the older generation begins to reach their peak.

Players like Dinh Bac, Van Khang, Nhat Minh, Hieu Minh… are not only a source of hope for upcoming tournaments, but also a foundation for Vietnamese football to aim for more ambitious goals in the future.

A little disappointing.

Despite achievements at the national team level, the picture of Vietnamese football in 2025 still has a somber tone, stemming from the domestic league system. While the V-League receives significant investment from clubs, the stands are conversely not as crowded as expected.

But 2025 also saw a sense of disappointment as quite a few clubs disappeared...

In the First Division, even on the eve of the new season, the league is still struggling with the number of participating teams. Many clubs are facing financial difficulties and are on the verge of not being able to participate, such as Khanh Hoa and Dong Thap . This uncertainty has made the league's image a hindrance in the eyes of fans.

Besides Quang Nam – a former V-League champion who decided to withdraw and officially be removed from the league after narrowly avoiding relegation last season – Hoa Binh and Dong Nai were unable to participate, leaving the First Division with only 12 teams, instead of the originally planned 14 to balance with the V-League.

The fact that teams withdraw from the league, retreat, or exist in a state of stagnation not only reduces the professional quality but also raises serious questions about the sustainability of Vietnamese professional football. When the gap between the national team's success and the reality of the domestic league remains large, the joy is incomplete.

Concluding what was considered a "golden" year in terms of achievements, Vietnamese football still experienced moments of disappointment. Alongside the glory of triumphs, these shortcomings in the foundation serve as a reminder that the road ahead requires more investment, decisive action, and coordinated efforts for the Vietnamese national team's dream of reaching the World Cup to become a reality in the near future.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nhin-lai-bong-da-viet-nam-2025-dam-chien-tich-and-ca-su-hut-hang-2490835.html