FIFA delivers positive news for Vietnam's national team ahead of the major clash with Malaysia

Vietnam's national team has achieved a notable rise on the FIFA rankings following a 3-0 awarded victory against Malaysia in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.

After the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued its decision to award a 0-3 loss to Malaysia's national team in two matches of Group F in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, Vietnam's national team became the biggest beneficiary. Not only did they secure an early ticket to the Asian Cup 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia, but coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad also received further positive signals from the FIFA rankings.

Specifically, according to the latest update from FIFA Rankings LIVE, Vietnam's national team has climbed five spots, rising to the 103rd position with 1,217 points. This is considered a direct consequence of the "Golden Star Warriors" being awarded a 3-0 win over Malaysia in the second match held last June.

Notably, this ranking is not yet the final figure for Vietnam's national team in this update round. If they continue to secure a victory over Malaysia in the match scheduled for late this month, coach Kim Sang Sik's team will undoubtedly gain additional points, thereby opening an opportunity to break into the top 100 strongest national teams worldwide.

On the contrary, Malaysia's national team suffered a significant drop in ranking. After being penalized with losses in two matches, the "Malayan Tigers" have fallen 14 places to the 135th position with 1,146 points. Previously, they held the 121st spot, which now belongs to Indonesia after the archipelago nation's team slightly climbed one place in the latest update.

Regarding Vietnam's national team, the full squad is expected to assemble soon in the coming days, after the first training session on March 21 saw only 10 players present. This is merely the warm-up phase, helping players regain their feel for the ball and adapt to the national team atmosphere before entering intensive preparation.

This call-up list also features several notable highlights. Among them, Hoàng Hên (Hendrio) is a name attracting considerable attention as he makes his debut appearance for Vietnam's national team. The midfielder from Hà Nội FC is expected to bring creativity, linking ability, and effective support to the attacking front.

Additionally, Nguyễn Xuân Son remains a figure drawing significant attention from both media and fans. With impressive recent form, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists in just 6 appearances for the national team, the striker born in 1997 continues to be regarded as the primary hope on the offensive line, especially in decisive moments of matches.

Immediately, Vietnam's national team will have a warm-up match against Bangladesh on March 26. This is seen as a crucial preparatory step before the team focuses on achieving favorable results in the final match of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifying round.