The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has stated that there are no plans regarding French coach Philippe Troussier's dismissal at present even though there is concern over his tenure if Vietnam suffer another loss to Indonesia in their upcoming rematch in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Following Vietnam’s 0-1 defeat against Indonesia in Jakarta last week, many Vietnamese fans urged VFF to fire Troussier, expressing concerns about the team's chances of advancing to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Asia.

Last week’s vanquishment marked Vietnam’s second loss to their Southeast Asian neighbors within two months.

Vietnam were ousted from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in January by Indonesia after another 0-1 defeat during the group stage.

The most recent setback extended Vietnam’s dismal record under Troussier’s coaching, with the team losing nine out of their last ten matches, including six consecutive defeats, five of which were in official competitions.

It also resulted in a deduction of 15.37 points for the Golden Stars in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings, with an anticipated ranking drop to 112th in the world.

Within one year since Troussier took the helm in February 2023, Vietnam dropped out of the top 100 in the FIFA Rankings and lost their Southeast Asia lead. 

These results have sparked public outrage over Troussier’s conservative coaching methods and player selection.

Prominent football experts, who were once supporters of the French coach, have also expressed their impatience with him.

Despite this, Vietnam have a chance to redeem themselves in the second-leg match against Indonesia at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on Tuesday, with a win potentially narrowing the gap and boosting their advancement prospects.

Tran Anh Tu, VFF’s vice-president overseeing expertise, clarified that the federation has not yet contemplated terminating Troussier’s contract, emphasizing the team’s focus on the upcoming match.

Troussier’s contract with VFF spans over three years, from March 1, 2023, to July 31, 2026, with the primary objective being Vietnam’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Asia.

While Troussier’s first task of guiding Vietnam U22s to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games final in Cambodia was unmet, his assignments for 2024 include securing Vietnam’s passage to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and winning medals in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Questions regarding Troussier’s future would be inevitable should he fail to achieve these 2024 goals, prompting speculation about the potentially early termination of his contract and associated reparation.

Comparisons are being drawn with the Korean Football Association’s premature dismissal of coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who faced similar circumstances following the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, resulting in significant recompense.

Addressing these concerns, Tu stated, “We are bound by confidentiality regulations that prevent us from divulging contract specifics.

“However, I can confirm that coach Philippe Troussier’s contract is structured in stages, with termination possible if goals are not met.”

In February 2023, VFF leaders disclosed that the Frenchman's salary exceeded that of his predecessor Park Hang Seo, which was reportedly around US$50,000 per month after tax, as last announced in 2020.

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