Vietnamese fans were upset after their men’s national football team suffered another setback at the hands of Indonesia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers on Thursday.

Thursday evening’s 0-1 loss in Jakarta marked Vietnam’s second defeat against their Southeast Asian neighbors in just two months.

The Golden Stars were eliminated from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January by Indonesia following a group-stage match that also ended 0-1.

“Honestly, watching the team play like this makes me lose interest in supporting the Vietnamese team,” a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s reader commented under an article on the match.

“While we’ve lost to regional opponents before, there were always courage, determination, and a fighting spirit evident in our players, making us proud even in defeat.

“But now, where is that eagerness to score, that drive to push forward?

“While I’m not knowledgeable about tactics or techniques, it’s clear that when a coach fails to inspire their team, fans inevitably lose interest.

“It’s disheartening to witness the current state of the football team.”

“The defeat was likely anticipated by many fans, although few voiced their concerns due to their love for the team and national pride,” another reader wrote.

“However, given the head coach’s approach to personnel preparation, managing injury crises, and handling media issues, failure seems unavoidable.

“While it’s disheartening, we accept the reality and look to the VFF [Vietnam Football Federation] for change.

“Otherwise, Vietnamese football risks regression under Troussier.”

“Mr. Troussier should resign with dignity if he still has it! The upcoming match might see positive changes without him as the coach,” a third reader said.

There were no crowds of fans purchasing tickets for the Vietnam-Indonesia rematch, a scene that typically unfolds when tickets are sold directly at the VFF headquarters in Hanoi on Friday mornings.

“We are determined to secure a positive outcome as a gift for head coach Philippe Troussier as the matchday falls on his birthday,” said midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

However, Duc and the team fell short of that goal on Thursday, with the 95 minutes at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium proving to be a complete disappointment, attributable to both the Vietnamese players and their French coach.

Consecutive defensive errors led to Vietnam conceding from a throw-in in the 52nd minute, while the team’s offense failed to deliver any on-target finishes, showcasing a lackluster performance.

The defeat pushed Vietnam to the third position in Group F, with three points, trailing behind Indonesia with four points.

This setback narrowed their chances of advancing to the third round.

Iraq are leading the pack with nine points after three matches, while the Philippines are at the bottom with one point after losing 0-1 to the group leaders early on Friday. 

Vietnam must secure a victory in the upcoming rematch at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on March 26 to keep any hope alive.

Within one year since Troussier took the post in February 2023, Vietnam dropped out of the top 100 in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings and lost their lead in Southeast Asia, much to the disappointment of their fans. 

Troussier acknowledged pre-match that many supporters want him to be fired. 

While he did not come to the stands to address the spectators and express gratitude like his players did, he stated during the post-match press conference his expectation of strong support at My Dinh next week for a comeback. 

The Asian section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification involves 46 teams competing in five rounds for eight direct qualifying slots and one inter-confederation play-off berth from October 2023 to November 2025.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!