Culture - Sports

Vietnam's futsal team gear up for 2026 Asian qualifiers

The roster blends seasoned veterans with young talents, promising fierce competition for places.

Vietnam's national futsal team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 before travelling to Kuwait for training from September 9 to 14. (Photo: VFF)
Vietnam's national futsal team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 before travelling to Kuwait for training from September 9 to 14. (Photo: VFF)

Hanoi (VNA) – Head coach Diego Giustozzi has announced a 20-player squad for the Vietnamese national futsal team as they begin preparations for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said on August 15.

The roster blends seasoned veterans with young talents, promising fierce competition for places. Two players have earned their first senior call-ups: goalkeeper Chau Thach Khanh Cuong of Thai Son Nam HCM City and Nguyen Quoc Giau of Ho Chi Minh City Youth FC.

Core members include experienced campaigners such as goalkeeper Pham Van Tu, and players Pham Duc Hoa, Nguyen Manh Dung and Chau Doan Phat.

Rising talents such as Tran Quang Nguyen, Trinh Cong Dai, Vu Ngoc Anh and Nguyen Da Hai – the Best Player of the 2025 National Futsal Cup – have also been retained.

A notable absentee is veteran goalkeeper Ho Van Y, who is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and will be sidelined for at least six months.

The team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18 before travelling to Kuwait for training from September 9 to 14, including two friendlies against Kuwait on September 11 and 13. They will then head to China for the qualifiers.

The 2026 qualifiers feature 31 teams in eight groups. The eight group winners and the seven best runners-up will join hosts Indonesia in the finals in January 2026. Vietnam are in Group E with Lebanon, China and Hong Kong (China), facing Hong Kong on September 20, China on September 22, and Lebanon on September 24./.

VNA
#Vietnamese national futsal team #Vietnam Football Federation #Diego Giustozzi #futsal #2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup
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