According to regulations, the 6 teams with the best results in the 2026 Asian Cup Women's finals will qualify for the World Cup. Of which, the 4 teams entering the semi-finals will win tickets directly.
The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will play the play-off round, divided into 2 matches. The two winning teams in this round will take the remaining 2 Asian spots. The two losing teams will enter the intercontinental playoffs, where they will have to compete with representatives from other regions to win an easel spot.
Thus, among the 12 teams participating in the 2026 Asian Cup Women's Finals, at least 6 teams are sure to have tickets to the World Cup. This is a high rate, bringing many opportunities for mid-level teams in the region, including Vietnam.
With current strength, the Vietnam women's team is considered capable of passing the group stage. However, if they continue to the quarter-finals, the team will likely have to face one of the top teams in Asia such as Japan, Korea, China, North Korea or Australia. These are all opponents with a clear level of improvement, making Vietnam's chances of advancing to the quarter-finals low.
If they cannot pass the quarter-finals, the Vietnam women's team will compete in the play-off round to compete for a place in the World Cup. Opportunities are still there, but it depends largely on the opponent the team faces. If they meet opponents with equivalent qualifications, the possibility of winning tickets is feasible. Conversely, if they have to face one of the top teams in Asia, the possibility of going on will be significantly lower.
In addition to the Vietnamese women's team, teams such as the Philippines, Taiwan (China) and India are also considered direct competitors for a place in the World Cup, especially in the play-off scenario. This makes the race tense and unpredictable.
At the 2022 Asian Cup, the Vietnam women's team passed the play-off round to qualify for the 2023 World Cup for the first time. At that time, Vietnam beat Thailand 2-0 and Taiwan (China) 2-1 in the ticket match between the 3 teams. The experience from that tournament could be an important factor if the same scenario repeats itself at the 2026 Asian Cup.
Tickets to the 2027 World Cup are a target within reach for the Vietnam women's team, but to realize this, the team will need to maintain professional stability, avoid injury and get positive results against opponents of equal strength. Careful preparation and favorable drawing will be important additional factors in this journey.
