The 'Double Failure' and a Reminder for Vietnamese Football

Today, March 28th, brings a "somber tone" to Vietnamese football as both youth-level teams and women's clubs receive results that fall short of expectations.

The 0-1 defeat ofVietnam U23against Thailand U23 in the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament, along with the 0-3 loss of the Ho Chi Minh City women's club to Naegohyang in the quarter-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League 2025–2026, are not actually shocks but events that were somewhat predicted beforehand.

For Vietnam U23, the conceded goal in the 22nd second againstThailand U23is clear evidence of a lack of concentration, a common issue in a squad lacking experience and currently in a testing phase.

Following success at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the youth team entered a process of renewing its forces, aiming for the 2026 ASIAD. However, the transition journey is never easy.

Finishing bottom of the group after two matches shows the gap between potential and stability remains quite wide.

Nevertheless, this defeat is not entirely negative. Vietnam U23 still created a game situation without being inferior, even having periods of significant pressure. The biggest weakness lies in the finishing stage, a familiar problem for many levels of Vietnamese national teams over recent times.

When opportunities are not converted into goals, all efforts in ball control or tactical deployment become incomplete.

In another direction, the failure ofthe Ho Chi Minh City women's clubagainst Naegohyang (North Korea) clearly reflects the class gap on the continental stage. Despite adding up to four foreign players, the Vietnamese representative still could not make a difference against an opponent superior in physicality, speed, and organization.

Two of the three conceded goals came from the same "script" of aerial balls, showing limitations in defensive capability and tactical adaptation.

Stopping at the quarter-finals, though regrettable, is not surprising. Vietnamese women's football is still in a process of rising, while Asian opponents like the North Korean representative have maintained a high level for many years. That gap cannot be bridged merely by a few short-term contracts.

Two failures on the same day, at two different levels, essentially serve as a necessary reminder. Vietnamese football has made significant strides in recent years, but that does not equate to having approached continental class.

From men's, women's, futsal national teams to club level, Vietnamese football remains in the group being chased and even surpassed by many regional opponents.

What is important now is a correct assessment of position. Confidence is necessary, but it must be accompanied by humility and more systematic investment. Past successes cannot guarantee the future, especially when other regional football nations like Thailand, Indonesia, or Malaysia are accelerating strongly with long-term strategies and substantial resources.

What matters is not winning or losing a single match, but what Vietnamese football learns from these setbacks.