What has changed since then? Vietnamese football has had some notable achievements: The U23 team reached the semi-finals of the 18th ASIAD; won the 30th and 31st SEA Games; the national team won the 2018 AFF Cup, reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, and entered the 3rd qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. And after the time when Mr. Park Hang-seo left, there was a lackluster period in 2023-2024 under Mr. Troussier. The time when fans were no longer interested in the team. The empty stands were proof of the decreasing appeal. It was only when we played brilliantly in the 2024 ASEAN Cup under Mr. Kim Sang-sik that the fever returned. In fact, Nguyen Xuan Son was part of the factor that created the appeal again. It was his impressive performance in the first matches for the Vietnam National Team that inspired the audience.
That is why the Vietnam team has gradually created a ticket fever in Viet Tri, attracting fans to the stadium. Xuan Son is part of the inspiration. But the Vietnam team with the spirit of the flag, has cohesion and importantly has achievements. Now, when there is a championship trophy. Many people wonder, why is there not a big fever like before? The most obvious thing is that this is the third time we have won the Southeast Asian championship, the feeling is not like the first time.
That said, the cup is the title that the Vietnam team needs. But it is also necessary to clearly recognize that it is the motivation to have even greater achievements. The Vietnam team will have the same welcoming ceremony as the U23 team returning from Changzhou in 2018, but that is when we have a higher title, in a position to reach higher levels.
