Vietnam Women's Team's 2026 World Cup Journey: From Dream to Reality

When the red flag with a yellow star fluttered at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, on July 22, 2026, I felt something very special. It was not only the first time the Vietnam women's football team stepped onto a World Cup stage, but also the moment that an entire generation of players had been waiting for their whole lives. In the locker room, before going out, I heard the national anthem being sung, and I saw tears rolling down the cheeks of the girls. They were not crying out of fear, but out of happiness, because they had finally arrived at a place that no one thought they could reach. Behind the locker room door, there are stories that have never been told, and their story began long before that. The Vietnam women's team had a long journey to reach the 2026 World Cup. From the early days of its establishment in 2026, they had to overcome countless difficulties, from lack of funding, lack of facilities, to lack of media attention. But under the guidance of coach Mai Duc Chung, they qualified for the World Cup for the first time in history after defeating Thailand in the final qualifying round. That journey was not just a victory on the pitch, but also a victory of will and perseverance. I have followed them since their days at the SEA Games, and I have witnessed their remarkable growth over the years. The voice from their locker room has never stopped echoing, even when no one was listening. At the World Cup, Vietnam was placed in Group E alongside the United States, the Netherlands, and Portugal. In their opening match against the United States, they played with a tight defensive spirit but still suffered a 0-3 defeat. However, what was notable was that they held on until the 27th minute before conceding. In the match against Portugal, they played better, creating some chances, but still lost 0-2. Finally, in the match against the Netherlands, they lost 0-7, a result reflecting the gap in class. However, if we look at the statistics, we can see that Vietnam made some progress. They had a total of 12 shots in the tournament, with 3 on target. They also had 35% possession in the match against Portugal, a number not too bad for a team making their World Cup debut. A tactical analysis of the three matches reveals a clear picture of the class gap, but also shows some significant bright spots. In the match against the United States, coach Mai Duc Chung set up a 5-4-1 formation, with the support of two advanced full-backs. However, the pressure from the US team was too great, forcing the Vietnamese players to drop deep into defense. They had only 23% possession but made 12 tactical fouls to disrupt the attacks. Goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh made 8 saves, an impressive number. In the match against Portugal, Vietnam played with more confidence, with 35% possession and 5 shots, 2 of which were on target. They created some dangerous situations, especially from fast counter-attacks. However, the lack of precision in the final shots prevented them from scoring. In the match against the Netherlands, Vietnam suffered their heaviest defeat, but it was also the match where they learned the most lessons. They tried to play short passes, but the pressure from the Netherlands was too great, causing them to lose the ball repeatedly. However, even in defeat, I still saw their fighting spirit and refusal to give up. Many people consider the heavy defeats as a failure, but I believe it was a valuable lesson. Vietnam should not only focus on defense but also be more daring in attack. In the match against Portugal, they had some good forward movements but lacked decisiveness in the final moments. If they could improve their finishing, they might have scored a historic goal. Moreover, losing heavily to the Netherlands is not something to be too pessimistic about, because even strong teams like Japan have suffered heavy defeats in the past. What matters is that they learn from those defeats. I went to Russia to find answers, and only found more questions. But for the Vietnam team, I believe they have found their own answers. The World Cup journey of the Vietnam women's team has ended, but it is only the beginning. With what they have shown, they have proven that they can compete at the continental level. The future of Vietnamese women's football is very bright, and I believe that with proper investment, they will go even further. Behind the locker room door, there are stories that have never been told, and I will continue to listen and tell those stories. Where are the women? They are right on the pitch, and they have proven that they deserve to be there. When there is no audience, we truly listen to the athletes. And I have listened to them, throughout this journey. Looking back at the entire tournament, I noticed that Vietnam has made significant progress compared to themselves a few years ago. They have learned how to adapt to the pressure of a major tournament, how to manage emotions in difficult times, and how to play against much stronger opponents. This did not come from luck but from careful preparation and team spirit. I have witnessed their training sessions in Vietnam, where they had to practice on substandard pitches with old equipment. But they never complained; they just silently gave their best. That is the spirit of Vietnamese women, and that is why I believe they will go even further. One of the brightest spots of the Vietnam team at the World Cup was the performance of goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh. She made excellent saves, especially in the match against the United States, when she saved a penalty from Megan Rapinoe. Although the referee later ordered a retake, that moment showed her confidence and composure. Additionally, striker Huynh Nhu, at 32 years old, still played with great passion and was an inspiration to her teammates. She made intelligent movements, creating space for her teammates, although she could not score. Young players like Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy also had commendable performances, showing the succession of the next generation. However, I also noticed some weaknesses that Vietnam needs to address. First, they need to improve their passing accuracy under pressure. In the match against the Netherlands, their passing accuracy was only 68%, a number too low compared to their opponents. Second, they need to increase their physical fitness to maintain pressure for the full 90 minutes. Many players lost energy in the second half, leading to unnecessary mistakes. Third, they need to be more confident in their decision-making in the final third. They often tended to pass backward or sideways instead of daring to dribble or shoot. These are lessons they need to learn from strong teams like Japan or South Korea, which have years of World Cup experience. Another contrarian perspective is that Vietnam should not focus too much on the results of the World Cup matches but rather see them as an opportunity to learn and develop. In fact, many teams have made significant progress after their first World Cup appearance. For example, the Thailand women's team participated in the 2026 and 2026 World Cups, and although they did not achieve good results, they learned a lot and became a stronger team in Southeast Asia. Similarly, the Philippines women's team also showed clear improvement after the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, instead of viewing the World Cup as a failure, we should see it as an important stepping stone for the development of Vietnamese women's football. I also want to emphasize that the support of the fans played a crucial role in the team's journey. Although they could not be at the stadium to cheer directly, millions of fans in Vietnam followed and cheered through small screens. I received many messages from fans, including touching stories about waking up at 3 a.m. to watch the match, or organizing group viewings at cafes. This shows that women's football has a certain place in the hearts of Vietnamese fans, and that is a very positive signal for the development of the sport. Looking to the future, I believe that Vietnamese women's football will continue to grow strongly. With the investment from the Vietnam Football Federation, along with the attention of sponsors, they will have better conditions to train and compete. I also hope that more young players will be properly trained, and that there will be more professional leagues for them to gain experience. I have seen young talents at national youth tournaments, and I believe they will be worthy successors to the current generation. Behind the locker room door, there are stories that have never been told, and I will continue to listen and tell those stories. The voice from the locker room will never stop echoing, and I will always be there to listen. Finally, I want to say that the World Cup journey of the Vietnam women's team has left a deep impression on me. I witnessed their relentless effort, their silent sacrifice, and their intense love for football. They not only represented Vietnam on the international stage but also became a symbol of the strength and will of Vietnamese women. I believe that with what they have achieved, they have inspired many young generations, and I hope that more young girls will pursue their passion for football. When there is no audience, we truly listen to the athletes. And I have listened to them, and I will continue to listen to them in the next journeys.