The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Japan Football Association (JFA) on Wednesday signed an agreement to extend their comprehensive cooperation program, which has been in place since 2014.

In 2014, both sides signed their first cooperation agreement, aiming to enhance the quality of Vietnamese football while fostering cultural exchange between the two nations.

Over the past decade, the JFA has provided significant support to the VFF, including the introduction of experienced experts to work in Vietnam. 

Notable figures during the 2014-24 period have included Miura Toshiya, head coach of the U23 and national teams; Tanabe Kazuyoshi, executive director of the V.League; Yusuke Adachi and Takeshi Koshida, technical directors of the VFF; and Ijiri Akira, head coach of the U19 and U20 women’s teams. 

Moreover, the JFA has facilitated training and competition opportunities for both Vietnamese men’s and women’s teams in Japan, as well as initiatives to develop grassroots football in Vietnam.

On this basis, the VFF and JFA inked an agreement on Wednesday to extend their comprehensive cooperation program. 

The two federations agreed to prioritize goals including the development of women’s and youth football, enhancing collaboration between the V.League and J.League, creating opportunities for Vietnamese players in the J.League and vice versa, training professional referees, advancing sports medicine, and providing continued training opportunities for youth teams from both countries.

Tran Quoc Tuan, VFF chairman, expressed gratitude on behalf of the VFF executive committee for the JFA’s cooperation and support over the past decade, highlighting that on average, three to five teams of all levels travel to Japan each year for training and competition.

Leaders from both federations recognized the positive outcomes of their partnership since 2014, noting that it has not only advanced Vietnamese football but also strengthened cultural and sports exchanges between the two countries.

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