Vietnam Women's Team - India Women's Team: Aiming for Victory in the Opening Match

The Vietnam Women's Team aims to reach the world's biggest women's football festival through the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, similar to the scenario achieved four years ago in India. In that tournament, the Vietnam Women's Team was eliminated in the quarter-finals but won the playoff by defeating Thailand and Chinese Taipei to historically qualify for the 2023 World Cup in Australia - New Zealand.

Currently, the Vietnam Women's Team is ranked 36th in the world and is rated higher than India (ranked 67th). Coach Mai Duc Chung and his players are expected to secure a victory in their opening match to build momentum for a deep run in the tournament.

In the past, the Vietnam Women's Team has faced India twice in the Asian Cup, winning both matches (3-0 and 2-1). However, this period sees the Vietnam Women's Team undergoing a youth transition, while India has prepared thoroughly, achieving positive results during their training camp in Australia.

Since January 2026, the India Women's Team has been led by Coach Amelia Valverde. This coach has experience taking Costa Rica to the World Cup, but her time with the South Asian team has been short, requiring a quick stabilization of the squad before the tournament.

India is also in a rejuvenation process, with nearly half of the squad under 23 years old. This is a step in the long-term strategy of the All India Football Federation to build the next generation.

India suffered a setback as key midfielder Anju Tamang is unable to participate due to injury. This player has scored 15 goals for the national team and plays a crucial role in their tactical system.

Tamang's absence forces the coaching staff to adjust their tactical plans and provides more opportunities for other attacking players. Coach Amelia Valverde retained only 7 players from the 2022 Women's Asian Cup squad. In the team traveling to Australia this time, India has 6 players making their national team debut. Notable among them is midfielder Aveka Singh, who plays for Naestved HG (Denmark), and 25-year-old forward Manisha Kalyan, who plays for Alianza Lima (Peru). Kalyan is the first Indian player to feature in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Women's Team participating in this year's tournament has an average age of 28.6, the highest in the competition. This partly reflects their depth of experience. Many players have participated in previous Asian Cups and World Cups, providing a stable psychological foundation for competition.

The 2026 Asian Cup also serves as qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Besides 6 direct slots, Asia also has 2 representatives in the intercontinental playoff, competing against teams from other continents. It can be seen that 50% of the 12 teams participating in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup will secure a spot in the 2027 World Cup. This is a relatively high percentage, giving every team a chance to dream. The Vietnam Women's Team's path to qualifying for the 2027 World Cup is considered feasible.

In the group stage of the 2026 Asian Cup, the Vietnam Women's Team in Group C will face India, Chinese Taipei, and Japan in sequence. According to the format, the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarter-finals.

The likelihood of Vietnam earning points against Japan, ranked 8th in the world and having never left the Asian Top 4 in the past 40 years, is very low. The Japanese representatives are not only superior in class but are also top contenders for the championship this time. Therefore, the Vietnamese women need to focus on direct competitors India and Chinese Taipei to potentially finish 2nd or 3rd in the group.

The match against India is seen as a crucial starting point for the Vietnam Women's Team's goal of competing for a spot in the 2027 World Cup. Securing a favorable result in the first match will provide a significant advantage in the Group C landscape.

The match between the Vietnam Women's Team and India will take place at 18:00 on March 4th.

The task for the Vietnam Women's Team this time is considered quite challenging. Both India and Chinese Taipei have shown progress recently and have prepared thoroughly for this Asian Cup.

After historically qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia - New Zealand, Coach Mai Duc Chung and his team are eager to continue their World Cup dream.