Coach Hoàng Văn Phúc: 'An opportunity for Vietnamese football to discover new values at the AFC U23 Championship'

24/12/2025 06:55:00 pandatv

Right at the start of 2026, Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team will compete in the AFC U23 Championship. This significant continental tournament will serve as a stepping stone for Vietnamese football to reach new heights and discover greater values. Coach Hoàng Văn Phúc has shared his anticipations about the national football’s journey at the beginning of the year.

* Sports & Culture: Vietnamese football concluded a remarkable campaign in Thailand with 2 gold medals and 1 silver. Being part of the coaching staff for the Vietnam women’s team at this SEA Games, you must have many emotions lingering?

- Coach Hoàng Văn Phúc: Indeed, many emotions surfaced as SEA Games 33 ended. The Southeast Asian Games showcased the strong sporting spirit, determination, and bravery of Vietnamese athletes. Vietnam’s sports delegation, the sixth largest, fought hard to secure third place overall. Notably, among the 87 gold medals won, Vietnamese athletes broke 6 records, with football alone claiming 2 golds and 1 silver.

Among the two football gold medals, the women’s futsal team made history by winning for the first time after five consecutive SEA Games runner-up finishes. The men’s football gold was not as straightforward as the women’s futsal victory, but precisely because of the challenges faced, the SEA Games 33 men’s football gold brought even greater emotional highs for the nation’s fans. Their comeback at Rajamangala, the football sanctuary of Thailand, was described by regional and continental football fans as "unbelievable," "miraculous," and "magical."

Every victory in sports brings varied emotions and intensity. Above all, there is the happiness of bringing honor to national sports, a heartfelt gift for the fans. From the medal colors in futsal and men’s and women’s football specifically, to the overall results of Vietnam’s sports delegation.

Coach Hoàng Văn Phúc

From the unprecedented record set by runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh to the 4 gold medals won by shooter Trịnh Thu Vinh, and the achievements of the three sisters Mỹ Linh, Mỹ Trang, and Mỹ Hạnh, all have been recognized and duly rewarded for their tough journeys, efforts, and full commitment.

Even the silver medal of the Vietnam women’s football team will be cherished as "pure gold" in the hearts of fans, carrying the sweetest meaning despite the bitterness that our female footballers had to endure, though undeserved.

* The U22 Vietnam gold medal at SEA Games 33 was a highlight, a perfect conclusion to a successful year for national football. What is your impression of these recent successes?

- There have been exclamations of "miraculous" and "divine" regarding U22 Vietnam’s victory. Everyone’s feelings are understandable, but these results are what we have built through long-term, serious preparation, especially faith, a foundational system for talent discovery, training, and nurturing over time. And it’s not only SEA Games; this was proven earlier with the ASEAN Cup championship and the U23 Southeast Asia title in 2025.

It can be said that the SEA Games 33 final not only brought gold to U22 Vietnam but also created a rare effect in the region. It was one of the rare occasions when a winning team received admiration, congratulations, and widespread goodwill from fans in many countries, not only Southeast Asia, including rivals of Vietnamese football itself.

This shows it was not just a technical and tactical victory but also a triumph of spirit and determination.

* Without pause, Vietnamese football continues its new continental journey. The AFC U23 Championship is a challenging path, isn’t it, sir?

- SEA Games was just one stage; Vietnamese football has no rest and continues diligently for the next journeys starting with the AFC U23 Championship early 2026. SEA Games 33 closed a miraculous year for Vietnamese football but also set higher and further demands. The U23 team has gathered to begin the next campaign at the AFC U23 Championship 2026, facing stronger opponents from more developed football nations. A higher-level, more prestigious arena awaits Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team with intertwined challenges and opportunities.

Along with the core 23 players who just won at SEA Games, Coach Kim Sang Sik added two experienced players, Bùi Vĩ Hào and Lê Văn Hà. Coach Kim Sang Sik mentioned that the team’s unity and individual skills were key to their comeback against Thailand, but the upcoming Asian tournament will require even stricter preparation.

Comment (0)