After many years of affirming its position in the top 100 and then 110 strongest teams in the world , recently the Vietnamese team has officially dropped to 113th place on the FIFA rankings.
This is the lowest milestone in nearly 5 years and is a warning about the decline of Vietnamese football, in the period after the success under coach Park Hang-seo.
The long slide from the top
From the historic milestone of reaching the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Asia, to the recent disappointing series of matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and friendly matches, the Vietnamese team is going through a clear decline in both points and squad quality.
In 2022, Vietnam ranked 94th in the world, the highest in history and the top in Southeast Asia. However, the departure of coach Park Hang-seo marks a difficult transition period. Successors such as Philippe Troussier or Kim Sang-sik cannot create a clear tactical mark or convincing achievements even if we win the AFF Cup 2024.
In particular, the two consecutive losses to Indonesia in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup and Malaysia in the qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup were a real shock. Not only did Vietnam lose its competitive advantage in the qualifying round, it also dropped significantly in the FIFA rankings - a factor that directly affects the seeding in upcoming major tournaments.
Compared to regional rivals, Vietnam has now been left far behind by Thailand, while Indonesia and Malaysia have narrowed the gap on the FIFA rankings. From the top position in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese football is facing the risk of losing its position both regionally and continentally. Commenting on this worrying situation, veteran commentator Quang Huy said that the drop in FIFA rankings is not simply a tactical failure but reflects the problem of the new generation not being of sufficient quality to succeed their seniors.
Meanwhile, football expert Doan Minh Xuong emphasized the root factor: youth training is not properly invested in. "We train players in an unsystematic way, without a clear national strategy. Japan and Korea have standardized from the U10 level. But we still entrust it to each individual club," Mr. Xuong commented.
Another issue mentioned is the abuse of foreign players in the V-League. Many teams rely on foreign players in the striker and center-back positions, making it difficult for domestic players to compete and improve their skills. The V-League is becoming a tournament for foreign players, while Vietnamese players are just the background. As a result, when they join the national team, many young players lack the courage and experience to compete at the highest level.
The Vietnamese team (right) needs to improve their performance to soon return to the FIFA top 100. Photo: QUOC AN
Improvement plan
While Vietnamese football struggles to find its way back, neighboring teams are making clear progress. Indonesia and Malaysia have systematically applied player naturalization policies, with many players of European origin and professional playing experience. Thailand continues to maintain a stable domestic competition system and has a clear investment strategy for youth teams. All three teams have achieved good results in international tournaments that are counted on the FIFA rankings.
Meanwhile, Vietnam lacks a long-term plan, a tactical identity, and a development environment for domestic players. The drop in ranking is not just the result of a few losses, but the cumulative effect of a system lacking a clear direction. To be able to return to the top 100 teams in the world, Vietnamese football needs a deep reform at three levels: youth training, domestic league reform, and national team strategy.
Experts believe that it is necessary to build a national youth training program, in which VFF plays a central role, connecting major academies such as PVF, Viettel , HAGL JMG, Nutifood... Standardizing the curriculum, training philosophy and selection system will help young players have a more solid foundation. "If we do not invest in the U15 - U20 generation from today, in the next 5 years we will no longer have quality players for the national team" - expert Doan Minh Xuong warned.
V-League Upgrade
Regulations on the use of foreign players need to be tightened to create space for Vietnamese players to develop. At the same time, the V-League needs to be comprehensively upgraded from facilities, refereeing to media and television copyright.
A strong, professional national championship will be the foundation for players to mature and be ready to contribute to the national team. And, VFF should not set short-term performance goals for the Vietnam team but should build a long-term roadmap, focusing on rejuvenating the squad and building a football identity.
At the same time, it is necessary to design a quality international competition schedule for FIFA Days. Instead of choosing weak opponents to "gain points", choose teams of equal or higher level so that players have the opportunity to really compete.
FIFA rankings are not just a number - they reflect the quality, prestige and development of the entire football industry. When Vietnam falls out of the top 100, it means losing the advantage in seeding, making it difficult to attract sponsors and affecting the psychology of fans and players.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-tut-hang-fifa-tim-lai-vi-the-cach-nao-19625071121305358.htm
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