Vietnam receives good news, preparing to join the Asian Nations League?

The AFC is moving forward with plans to introduce the AFC Nations League as a substitute for poor-quality friendly matches, providing a consistent and competitive international stage for national teams, Vietnam included.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently confirmed it is implementing plans to organize the AFC Nations League, a men's national team competition modeled after the European Nations League. This is seen as a strategic move to reform international competition in Asia, as traditional friendlies increasingly reveal limitations in quality, cost, and appeal.

According to internal AFC assessments, utilizing FIFA international windows has become more challenging than ever. Many national teams struggle to find suitable opponents and face long-distance travel with high expenses, while the quality of friendlies is insufficient to meet the goal of improving technical standards.

Therefore, the AFC Nations League is designed as a clearly structured competition systemthat allows national teams to play regularly, at the right level, and with clear competitive incentives.

The key feature of the AFC Nations League lies in its tiered system. With 47 member associations having varying levels of ability, dividing teams into different divisions will create more balanced matchups. Instead of experimental friendlies, teams will compete in matches with ranking, promotion, or relegation stakes, thereby enhancing sporting value and fan interest.

This model is not new to world football. In Europe, the UEFA Nations League, established in 2018, replaced most friendlies, helping teams maintain consistent match rhythm and adding an official trophy. In North and Central America, the CONCACAF Nations League has also been effective, giving smaller teams more opportunities to play while allowing stronger teams to compete at a proper level.

For Vietnam, the AFC Nations League presents a notable opportunity. Besides World Cup qualifiers, Asian Cup, and ASEAN Cup, the Vietnamese national team could gain an additional quality international competition during FIFA windows. If the tier system is applied, Vietnam is likely to be placed among Asia’s mid-level teams, regularly facing opponents of similar strength rather than mismatched strong or weak teams.

Based on the latest FIFA rankings, Vietnam is currently in the top 20 in Asia, a position sufficient to participate in the middle or upper tiers of the AFC Nations League if launched. This will not only help maintain a steady competitive rhythm but also support improving FIFA rankings and provide young players with international experience in a truly competitive environment.

Currently, the AFC has not disclosed details about the format, number of divisions, schedule, or how the AFC Nations League will relate to other tournaments. However, given the established direction and successes in other regions, the AFC Nations League is likely to soon become a familiar part of Asian football’s calendar, opening new development opportunities for Vietnam’s national team in the coming years.