No matter which way you go...
At 4 pm today (March 10), the Vietnamese women's national football team will play the last match of Group C at the 2026 Asian Women's Football Championship, against the Japan national team, a very strong opponent. At this time, coach Mai Duc Chung's team knows their situation (having tickets or not having tickets based on the results of Group A and Group B) and what is necessary in the match against the team that has won the Asian championship twice.
Since their first appearance at the 2023 World Cup, the goal of Vietnamese women's football is to win a ticket back to this playground in the following tournaments.
Currently, at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, it is still that goal, but experts share the view that Huynh Nhu and her teammates will only be able to find tickets through the play-off round, just like they did in the previous tournament. A long and arduous journey, this time they even have to play intercontinental play-offs.
However, temporarily putting aside the journey of the Vietnamese women's team, the issue that needs to be concerned about now is the personnel issue. That is, whether there is a ticket to the 2027 World Cup or not, the transition process should be carried out faster, something that should have been done sooner.
...still has to transfer generations
Looking at the key players in coach Chung's hands, it can be seen that from goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh, to defenders Le Thi Diem My, Tran Thi Thu Thao, to midfielders Duong Thi Van, Thai Thi Thao, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, forwards Huynh Nhu, Pham Hai Yen, not to mention the reserve list including Hoang Thi Loan, Nguyen Thi My Anh, Tran Thi Thu are all over 30 years old. They account for 42% of the current list of 26 players.
They have gone through many SEA Games, Asian Cup and World Cup tournaments together. They are the golden generation, but no one can play forever, and it is understandable that in the not too distant future they will part ways one after another. Signs of fatigue in this cycle have begun to appear. From the hard-fought victory against the Indian women's team to the defeat against Taiwan (China), some players are not in the best physical condition. The intensity of competition is no longer maintained as stable as before. That is the natural law of sports.
The current squad has some factors that are entering a period considered "ripe" Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, Ngan Thi Van Su, Tran Thi Hai Linh (both 24 years old), Tran Thi Duyen, Cu Thi Huynh Nhu (25). External weather conditions are real, but remember that opponents must also play in similar conditions. Younger are Ngoc Minh Chuyen (21), Tran Nhat Lan (22), but the playing time cannot be called much to be ready to shoulder.
The question is time. Suppose, the Vietnamese women's team is eliminated at the 2026 Asian Championship, then, or if they win to win a ticket in the play-off round, the task of transfer will be somewhat simpler, with more time. But if they have to continue the intercontinental play-off journey that will only take place in February 2027, the Vietnam Football Federation and the coaching staff will still have to consider and adjust between achievements (ticket winning) and rejuvenation, because the 2027 World Cup takes place in June.
Of course, the rejuvenation goal is not only for the 2027 World Cup but also the long-term future of Vietnamese women's football. The issue is not waiting until the old generation leaves before starting to find replacements. The necessary thing is that the transition process must take place in parallel, as soon as possible. Trust the young generation, soon give opportunities to accumulate experience and competitive bravery.
Along with searching for and applying new training thinking and tactics, there may be a period of stumbling, but it is necessary, especially in the context that teams in the leading group in Asia are increasingly strong, and the group competing actively naturalizes and develops.
