Lessons learned for the Vietnamese women's national team.
The 1-8 aggregate defeat over two legs against host nation China (0-2 and 1-6) during their recent training camp somewhat illustrates the Vietnamese women's national team's position on the continental football map. These numbers can be considered a measure of the gap in skill, physical fitness, and tactical thinking between us and the top seeded teams in Asia. The risky experiment of an attacking style against China (ranked 17th in the world ), despite the heavy defeat, was a necessary test for the coaching staff to identify areas that need improvement.
The challenge at the upcoming 2026 Women's Asian Cup will be even tougher as Coach Mai Duc Chung's team faces Japan. While China is already strong, Japan, ranked 8th in the FIFA Women's rankings, is truly a formidable opponent. The team from the Land of the Rising Sun possesses world-class quality with a scientific playing style and skillful individual technique. Facing such a superior opponent requires Coach Mai Duc Chung's team to have a sound strategy and unwavering composure to minimize mistakes.
The Vietnamese women's national team (in blue jerseys) during a match against the host nation at their training camp in China before the Lunar New Year.
PHOTO: VFF
However, it was precisely from these defeats against stronger opponents that the Vietnamese players learned invaluable lessons. These practical experiences helped Thanh Nha and her teammates improve their mentality and accumulate experience in dealing with superior opponents. Through this, Coach Mai Duc Chung and his staff have undoubtedly made calculations regarding personnel and tactics, aiming to prepare the best possible team for the crucial campaign in Australia next March.
Difficulties with midday match times.
Looking at the Group C schedule, the Vietnamese women's team will face India on March 4th, Taiwan on March 7th, and Japan on March 10th. Of these, the match against Taiwan is considered a crucial game that will determine their chances of advancing. The biggest concern is the match time slot at 12 noon, which is 1 PM local time in Australia. This presents a demanding physical test, requiring players to exert themselves under the intense sun, demanding thorough preparation in terms of physical condition and recovery ability.
Schedule of the Vietnamese women's national team at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
PHOTO: VFF
Vietnam's path to the next round remains wide open if we know how to seize the opportunity. With 12 teams divided into 3 groups, the top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals. The biggest prize is a ticket to the 2027 Women's World Cup for the four winning teams in the quarterfinals. The losing teams still have a chance through continental play-offs to secure two more direct qualification spots, or they can try their luck in the intercontinental play-offs.
TV360 owns the broadcasting rights for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. Therefore, viewers can watch the matches of Coach Mai Duc Chung's team on TV360. In addition, fans can also support the Vietnamese women's national team through the channels of Vietnam Television (VTV) and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV).
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xac-dinh-kenh-phat-truc-tiep-doi-tuyen-nu-viet-nam-da-vck-chau-a-co-tren-vtv-khong-185260217143832228.htm
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