Vietnam's team faces an 'unknown factor' in their AFF opening match

The Vietnam women's futsal team will compete against Australia, who have yet to take part in the 2025 Southeast Asian women's futsal tournament.

The Vietnam women's futsal squad is set to begin their quest to defend their title at the 2026 Southeast Asian women's futsal championship, which starts on February 24 in Thailand. According to the draw, Coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng's team is placed in Group B alongside Australia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, with the most notable opponent being the Australian women's futsal team.

In the opening match on February 24, the Vietnam women's futsal team will face Australia. This is considered a tough challenge as the Kangaroo nation is participating in the regional competition for the first time. The lack of prior encounter data and detailed technical information makes Australia a significant "unknown," capable of surprising other teams in Group B.

The match schedule also presents a significant challenge for the Vietnam women's futsal team, as they must play three group matches on three consecutive days, all starting at 1:30 PM. This tight schedule requires the coaching staff to implement a reasonable rotation strategy to maintain players' fitness and consistent performance throughout the tournament.

If they advance past the group stage to the semifinals, the Vietnam women's futsal team will have a rest day before playing the semifinal on February 28. The final is scheduled for March 2, concluding the competition among the region's top teams.

The Vietnam women's futsal team enters the tournament as defending champions. In the 2024 edition, also held in Thailand, they won the title by defeating the host nation 2-1 after two extra periods in an intense final.

With a stable squad and international experience, Coach Nguyễn Đình Hoàng's team aims to retain their title at the 2026 Southeast Asian women's futsal championship. However, the presence of Australia—a newcomer with great potential—is expected to make the championship race more unpredictable and exciting.