Why is Bích Thùy considered the top hope for Vietnam’s national team in the 2026 Asian Cup?

Before the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup begins in Australia this March, Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy stands out as the key offensive player expected to lead Vietnam’s national team.

At this mature stage of her career, Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy is entering the tournament in peak form, ready to be the “switch” that makes a difference for coach Mai Đức Chung’s squad as they aim to compete strongly on the continental stage.

Her strengths lie in a rare combination of speed, strength, and decisiveness within the final third. The reigning 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball winner can accelerate quickly over short distances, hold off defenders effectively, strike powerfully with both feet, and especially possesses an acute instinct for scoring.

Currently, Bích Thùy is viewed as a forward capable of causing damage even when her team does not dominate possession. With just a small gap, a counterattack, or a second ball opportunity, she can still finish efficiently.

More importantly, Bích Thùy is on the verge of becoming the frontline leader as the team seeks to refresh its attack. As Huỳnh Như gradually approaches the final phase of her peak career, Vietnam’s national team needs a figure with enough prestige and composure to shoulder the pressure of scoring goals. Bích Thùy meets both requirements: she has solid physical conditioning at 32 years old and has accumulated enough match experience to remain calm during critical moments.

The Asian Cup is also familiar ground for her. Bích Thùy was a central figure in the historic campaign that secured Vietnam’s women’s team their first-ever World Cup berth in 2023, highlighted by a memorable moment in the 2022 Asian Cup playoff where they defeated Taiwan 2-1. Her experience handling pressure on the continental stage is crucial, especially since the 2026 Asian Cup also serves as a key milestone on the path to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Vietnam faces a significant challenge. The tournament format (12 teams divided into 3 groups, with 8 teams advancing to the quarterfinals; the top performing teams earn World Cup spots) means every mistake is costly. With Australia, Japan, China, and South Korea boasting deep and high-quality squads, Vietnam needs individuals capable of deciding matches, which is why Bích Thùy is placed at the center of expectations.

Tactically, coach Mai Đức Chung can utilize Bích Thùy as a modern forward: moving freely, dropping deep to link midfield, drifting wide to find space, then accelerating and finishing when the opportunity arises. Paired with Phạm Hải Yến, Vietnam’s women’s team has an experienced striker duo that can share workload and offer more attacking options, rather than relying on a single fixed target.

The 2025 Golden Ball award is a well-deserved recognition of Bích Thùy’s persistent journey, but the 2026 Asian Cup is the grand stage for her to prove her worth at the continental level. If she maintains her form and sharpness, she can definitely become the decisive factor in Vietnam’s ambition for a second women’s World Cup appearance.