The Vietnamese women's football team train for the 33rd SEA Games. — Photo courtesy of the VFF

SEA Games

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese women’s football team are intent on securing a historic fifth consecutive SEA Games title in Thailand.

Trần Anh Tú, Vice President of the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF), highlighted the team’s remarkable record of eight SEA Games titles, including four in a row, and expressed confidence in their ability to make history this year.

“The players must focus on honing their skills. The coaching staff and the VFF have meticulously prepared all logistical needs, training conditions and regimes,” Tú said.

He praised Vietnamese women’s football for bringing immense glory to the country’s sports and expressed his trust in coach Mai Đức Chung and his team.

“I believe the players will continue to break their own records at the upcoming SEA Games. Achievements will bring appropriate rewards. What’s most important is for the entire team to maintain the Vietnamese spirit, playing with aspiration, courage and the will to win,” Tú added.

Coach Mai Đức Chung remarked that his players have had numerous opportunities to compete against strong teams like France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and, most recently, the Australian women’s youth team. Despite some physical limitations, the Vietnamese players have demonstrated resilience, flexible playing styles and admirable perseverance and are ready to claim the gold medal in Thailand.

After more than two weeks of training at the Việt Nam Youth Football Training Centre in Hà Nội, the national women’s team are finalising preparations for an international training trip to Nagoya, Japan. The trip is a crucial step for the players to enhance their physical strength, gain experience and face strong opponents.

The VFF has tasked the coaching staff with thoroughly analysing opponents’ playing styles while promoting the team’s strengths and addressing weaknesses. They remain committed to supporting the team throughout their championship defence.

Striker Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã noted significant improvements in the team’s physical fitness after two weeks of training.

“Compared to the initial phase, the team are now more agile and resilient, successfully meeting the coaching staff’s tactical requirements,” she said.

Future aspirations beyond SEA Games

While the Vietnamese women aim for a fifth consecutive SEA Games win, they also view this training season as fundamental preparation for upcoming international tournaments in 2026. Coach Chung expressed optimism about the camp, highlighting the inclusion of many talented young players from domestic competitions. He hopes they will strive to secure a place at the SEA Games, affirming the coaching staff’s commitment to nurturing these emerging talents.

“Southeast Asian countries are heavily investing in women's football, even naturalising players to enhance competitiveness. However, the Vietnamese women's team's strengths lie in their fighting spirit, agility and skill. We will continue to train and learn through international trips to maintain our top position in Southeast Asia and set the stage for future ambitions,” Coach Chung said.

Midfielder Nguyễn Thị Vân pointed out that the team are shifting their focus to tactical coordination, enhancing links between the players.

“In this training session, many young faces have been called up for the first time, and they've integrated quickly and worked hard. The opponents at the Games, like Myanmar and the Philippines, are strong and evolving, so we must improve in every aspect to be ready to face them,” Vân said.

The team currently has only 26 players, as some members of the HCM City women's club are participating in the Asian Women's Club Championship. The team will continue training and playing friendly matches until November 20, after which they will head to Japan for training and three test matches against quality clubs organised by the Japan Football Federation.

At the conclusion of this training camp, the team will return to HCM City to acclimatise to weather conditions similar to those in Thailand, the host country for the 33rd SEA Games. This careful preparation regarding physical strength, tactics and competitive conditions is crucial for the team to maintain their edge over increasingly formidable Southeast Asian opponents. — VNS