After a difficult transition period, the Vietnamese futsal team is showing positive signs under coach Diego Giustozzi. The impressive streak of achievements at the 2026 Thailand Confederation Futsal Championship brings a basis to aim for the goal of winning a ticket to the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
After missing the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024, Vietnam futsal entered the reconstruction phase with many doubts. The rejuvenation process has made the team lack stability, while coach Diego Giustozzi is also under a lot of pressure as the results have not met expectations.
However, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) continues to place its trust in the Argentine strategist. Up to now, that steadfastness is gradually bringing positive signs.
The tournament in Thailand, although only a friendly tournament, gathers many quality teams such as Russia, Thailand, Afghanistan and New Zealand. These are all high-level opponents, helping Vietnamese futsal have the opportunity to rub against official tournaments.
The Vietnamese futsal team impressed when maintaining an unbeaten record after four matches. Coach Diego Giustozzi's team drew 2-2 with Russia, won 4-1 against New Zealand, overcame Afghanistan 2-1 before drawing 3-3 with host Thailand in a dramatic match.
Not only achieving positive results, the team also showed proactive, confident and ready to compete with opponents who are rated higher.
A noteworthy point is that this initial success comes from a team that is in the process of rejuvenation. Many players such as Van Hoai, Trong Kien, Nhan Nam, Thanh Tam or Cong Dai have been given many international competition opportunities and have gradually affirmed their progress.
Although they cannot become decisive factors immediately, being able to play regularly against strong opponents helps young players accumulate valuable experience. This is also the direction that coach Diego Giustozzi persistently pursues in order to build a deeper force for Vietnamese futsal.
The coach who once won the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup with Argentina understands that to compete in the continental and world arenas, the team cannot depend on a group of experienced players but needs a successor class capable of replacing them when necessary.
However, the 2026 Thailand Confederation Championship Friendly Tournament is still only for practice. Positive results cannot confirm that Vietnamese futsal has completely regained its position that helped the team participate in the round of 16 of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2016 and 2021 twice in a row.
However, what the national team has shown against Russia, Afghanistan or Thailand shows that the professional gap with strong teams is no longer too large. If we continue to maintain the rejuvenation process, improve the quality of international competition and invest in the right direction, futsal Vietnam has every basis to aim for the goal of winning a ticket to participate in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028.
