Futsal 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam want a decisive win in the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup when they play Hong Kong (China) in their Group B opener on May 7 in Hohhot, China.

Despite both teams playing for a third time in previous tournaments, this will be the first time that the two sides have met each other in the competition’s history. Việt Nam are considered the more favourite to take a win, as they rank eleventh in the world, 18 steps higher than their rivals.

Coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng’s team bagged 28 goals to emerge as the qualifiers’ highest-scoring team on route to the Cup, sealing their place in Hohhot. The team have also put in some serious training, aiming to qualify for the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025 in the Philippines.

“We had four weeks training domestically and one-week camp in Japan,” said Hoàng. “After the camp, we finalised the squad and selected the 14 best players to participate in the finals.

“Currently, my players are in good physical condition, ready for the tournament and committed to delivering their best performance.”

Hoàng appreciated that their opponents would also be keen to get a positive result in the first match, with Hong Kong wanting a top-three finish, which will surpass their previous best of fourth place in 2018.

“They will be a challenging opponent. However, we have already developed several strategies to perform well in the opening match,” he said. “For this tournament, our first goal is to advance past the group stage with a favourable result, laying the groundwork for qualification to the World Cup.”

Captain Trịnh Nguyễn Thanh Hằng said that Việt Nam underwent a thorough preparation process both professionally and physically. Returning from the qualifying round in Myanmar, the team continued to train with high intensity, with the trip to Japan particularly helping the team to make significant improvements.

“This is my second time participating in the Asian Cup Finals, but this year’s tournament is very different. Every match is now not only a battle for honour, but also a journey towards the World Cup," said Hằng.

"We are under pressure, but above all, there is determination to compete well and bring achievements to Vietnamese futsal.” 

She added that earning a World Cup slot would be a strong push for national futsal movement.

“Vietnamese women’s futsal is still in the development stage. A ticket to the World Cup will contribute to changing the perspective, increasing interest and investment in this sport,” she said. 

For their opponents, coach Ho Wing Kam was confident of taking Hong Kong past the group stage for the first time, having adequately prepared for her second tournament in charge after she successfully led them through the qualifiers.

“We held three short training camps in March and April to improve our skills and physical fitness and enhance players’ tactical understanding,” said Ho. 

“The team is in a pretty good condition and the players are selected from the local Women Football League. We emphasised physical and technical ability (as key attributes) as well as teamwork, to ensure that each team member can perform at their best in the competition.

“Facing Việt Nam in the first game, I think it is a big challenge,” she acknowledged. “Their pace and skill level is very high. We need to be tactically prepared and maintain a stable performance.” — VNS