Vietnam's recent rise has been impressive, but they'll need a miracle to make it through the group stages
Vietnam are one of eight teams making their Women's World Cup debut in Australia and New Zealand this summer. Making it to the grandest stage of them all, though, would have seen fancical when they played their first ever game in 1997.
However, steady improvement over the past decade means they will be mixing it with some of the best players on the planet in Group E. The United States, the Netherlands and Portugal are their opponents — three extremely tough tests on paper.
Vietnam will therefore need a minor miracle to make it through to the knockout stages, but the fact that they have made it here at all is a source of enormous pride back home. Their journey begins with a daunting match against reigning champions, the U.S., where they'll be hoping to avoid a heavy defeat in front of a global television audience.
The 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup was used to determine World Cup qualification in Asia. The tournament was hosted by India and each squad was subjected to strict coronavirus rules. The hosts themselves even had to withdraw from the competition after a spate of Covid-19 cases decimated their playing ranks.
Vietnam were placed in Pot Three for the draw and ended up in a strong group alongside 2011 World Cup winners Japan, South Korea and Myanmar. As expected, they found it tough. Japan and South Korea each helped themselves to 3-0 victories over Vietnam, with their game against Myanmar ending 2-2.
Despite earning just one point, they squeezed through to the knockout stages as the second-best third-placed team, due to Iran losing each of their group games. Vietnam met eventual winners China in the quarter-finals, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
However, salvation came in the form of another safety net. As a result of the World Cup being expanded to 32 teams, an additional automatic place was available via a round-robin play-off contested between each of the fallen quarter-finalists — minus Australia, who qualified automatically as hosts.
Vietnam began with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over fierce rivals Thailand and a second win over Taiwan meant they topped the group and progressed to their maiden World Cup. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy was the hero in the second, decisive game, dedicating her winner to her late father, who passed away in 2016.
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A rising power in Asian football
Although they remain well behind China, Japan, South Korea and Australia, Vietnam have emerged as the leading footballing power in Southeast Asia in recent years.
They have won the women's football tournament in each of the past four SEA Games, most recently defeating Myanmar 2-0 in the 2023 final in Cambodia. Vietnam also won the 2019 AFF Women's Championship, shocking hosts and bitter foes Thailand in the final.
The fact that they have made it to the World Cup, and their long-time rivals have not, makes their maiden tournament appearance all the sweeter. The next step in their development will be looking to challenge the AFC's big four, though this is easier said than done due to the vast resource gap.
Full squad
Position
Player
Club
Goalkeeper
Tran Thi Kim Thanh
Ho Chi Minh City
Goalkeeper
Khong Thi Hang
Than KSVN
Goalkeeper
Dao Thi Kieu Oanh
Hanoi
Defender
Chuong Thi Kieu
Ho Chi Minh City
Defender
Tran Thi Thu Thao
Ho Chi Minh City
Defender
Tran Thi Thu
Ho Chi Minh City
Defender
Luong Thi Thu Thuong
Than KSVN
Defender
Le Thi Diem My
Thank KSVN
Defender
Tran Thi Hai Linh
Hanoi
Defender
Hoang Thi Loan
Hanoi
Defender
Nguyen Thi My Anh
Thai Nguyen T&T
Defender
Tran Thi Thuy Nga
Than KSVN
Midfielder
Duong Thi Van
Than KSVN
Midfielder
Tran Thi Thuy Trang
Ho Chi Minh City
Midfielder
Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy
Ho Chi Minh City
Midfielder
Thai Thi Thao
Hanoi
Midfielder
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha
Hanoi
Midfielder
Ngan Thi Van Su
Hanoi
Midfielder
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung
Phong Phu Ha Nam
Forward
Huynh Nhu
Lank Vilaverdense
Forward
Pham Hai Yen
Hanoi
Forward
Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang
Than KSVN
Forward
Vu Thi Hoa
Ho Chi Minh City
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The MVP
This wasn't a hard choice. Huynh Nhu is Vietnamese football's first superstar. Not only is she her country's all-time leading scorer with 67 goals in just 103 caps, Nhu is also the only player in the squad who plies her trade overseas.
In August 2022, she was snapped up by Portuguese side Lank FC Vilaverdense. Located in Braga, the team are reported to be increasing her salary to around $3,200 per month next season following an impressive maiden campaign in Europe.
The move is a source of enormous national pride back home, with coach Mia Duc Chung telling FIFA.com: "It is a great honour when a European country signs a South-east Asian player, a Vietnamese one. It’s a big achievement for Huynh Nhu and I think it's an honour for our country. She is a good example for our female players to follow and it will help Vietnam women's football to be well known and respected."
The five-time Vietnam Golden Ball winner is a set-piece wizard and chipped in with some vital goals in qualifying. If they are going to make the net bulge this summer, she is the most likely player to do it.
