Ahead of Group E in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Mai Duc Chung affirmed the Vietnam women’s national team’s high determination, while acknowledging the improvements of fellow group teams Maldives, UAE, and Guam.

On June 28, at the pre-match press conference for Group E of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, head coach Mai Duc Chung, representing host nation Vietnam, shared his team’s strong commitment and thorough preparation.

“Our goal is to finish first in the group, and we will show our determination right from the opening match against Maldives. All of our group opponents have made clear progress. They’ve had friendly matches and solid preparation. That’s why we must remain cautious and play our best in every match,” he emphasized.

According to Coach Chung, Vietnam’s road to this qualifying round has seen many bright spots, notably the training camp in Japan.

“It was an ideal environment for development. At home, we often have to play against men’s teams. But in Japan, we trained with strong women’s teams, which greatly helped improve our performance,” he said.

Regarding the squad selection, Chung also explained the absence of overseas Vietnamese player Nam Mi: “We always welcome Viet Kieu players to contribute. However, for this call-up, due to professional considerations, Nam Mi has not been included in the official roster. Instead, we’ve given opportunities to several promising young players like Nguyen Thi Hoa, Minh Chuyen, and Thu Em – who all need more match experience.”

Opponents respect Vietnam, eager to compete

Maldives coach Mohamed Athif expressed his excitement about facing strong teams: “Facing Vietnam in the opening match is the biggest challenge. Although our preparation has been limited, we will enter the game with the highest spirit and aim to deliver entertaining performances.”

The UAE head coach noted the team is undergoing a positive transformation following the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re focusing on giving more chances to domestic players, in line with our cultural context and long-term development strategy. This tournament will help us assess the level and future direction of UAE women’s football,” he stated.

Guam’s coach Kim Sherman took a modest but optimistic tone: “We aim to better understand our team’s capabilities through this tournament and to learn from stronger regional opponents.”

Group E qualifiers will take place from June 29 to July 5 at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, featuring four teams: Vietnam, Maldives, UAE, and Guam.

Only the top team will qualify for the final round of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. This qualifying stage is a crucial step toward reaffirming Vietnam’s position on the continental football stage.

Dai Nam