Vietnam women’s team determined to win tickets to Asian Cup 2026

On the afternoon of June 28, a pre-match press conference was held at the Saigon-Phu Tho Hotel with the participation of all four women’s football teams in Group E of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers—namely the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Maldives, Guam, and host Vietnam. At the event, Head Coach of the Vietnam Women’s National Team, Mr. Mai Duc Chung, affirmed that the entire team is well-prepared and determined to secure a ticket to the 2026 Asian Cup Finals in Australia.

Coaches of 4 women’s football teams, including Maldives, host Vietnam, UAE, and Guam (from left), attended the press conference before the start of the Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Coach Mai Duc Chung opened the conference by emphasizing the team’s aspirations: “Our goal is clear—earning a spot at the 2026 Asian Cup Finals in Australia. However, all of our group-stage opponents have made significant strides in recent years and deserve our full respect. We have prepared thoroughly, both physically and mentally, and are ready to step onto the pitch with the highest determination, living up to the support and affection from our fans.”

The head coach of the Vietnam Women’s Team said that the whole team is ready to aim for the 2026 Asian Cup Finals.

Speaking about the exclusion of overseas Vietnamese player Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi—once expected to bring a new dynamic to the squad—Coach Mai Duc Chung explained, “We were pleased to welcome Nam Mi from Ho Chi Minh City Club. However, after several training sessions, she has not yet met some of the professional standards set by the coaching staff. I hope she will continue striving at her club level. There will surely be more opportunities ahead.”

Coach Vera Pauw of the UAE team shared frankly at the press conference.

Coach Vera Pauw of the UAE Women’s Team, considered Vietnam’s toughest opponent in Group E, also shared insights during the press conference. She revealed that the UAE Football Federation had opted not to field naturalized players in this campaign, focusing instead on domestic talent. “Our strategy is to nurture homegrown players who will become a solid foundation for the future of UAE Women’s Football. This tournament not only allows our players to compete and inspire women back home but also gives our coaching staff the chance to assess the team’s development and direction moving forward,” she said.

Maldives Women’s Team Coach Mohamed Athif acknowledged the difficulties of the team in the process of preparing for the tournament.

Representing the Maldives Women’s Team, Coach Mohamed Athif acknowledged the unique challenges his players faced while preparing for the qualifiers. “In the Maldives, we don’t have a national women’s football championship, so our players had to train alongside the men’s team to prepare. Every international tournament like this is an important learning experience. We’ll give it our all in the upcoming matches and try to deliver our best performance,” he stated.

Coach Kimberly Sherman’s Guam team is ready to compete with the teams in the group.

Coach Kimberly Sherman of the Guam Women’s Team—who arrived in Phu Tho later than the other teams—expressed confidence in her squad’s readiness. “We’ve prepared well, with both training and international friendlies. This is a significant milestone for women’s football in Guam, and we hope to not only compete with the best in Asia but also inspire and promote the growth of the sport in our country,” she said.

Group E of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers will officially kick off at 4:00 p.m. on June 29 at Viet Tri Stadium with the opening match between the UAE and Guam. At 7:00 p.m., the host, Vietnam, will face off against the Maldives in their first group-stage clash.

All Group E matches hosted in Phu Tho will be broadcast live on FPT Play and the official digital platforms of the Vietnam Football Federation, enabling fans across the country and abroad to follow and support the teams.

Quoc Dai