The Vietnam women’s national football team will begin their campaign to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by competing in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, set to take place in June.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw for the qualifying round on Thursday.

Vietnam, currently ranked 37th in the world and sixth in Asia, were placed in the top-seed group.

As a result, Vietnam were drawn into Group E alongside Guam (ranked 96th), the United Arab Emirates (112th), and the Maldives (163rd).

The team will also have the advantage of hosting all group matches.

The qualifiers are scheduled for June 23 to July 5, 2025.

Thirty-four teams will compete across eight groups.

Six groups will include four teams each, while two groups will have five.

Only the eight group winners will advance to the final tournament in Australia.

Vietnam's head coach Mai Duc Chung noted that his team had previously faced the Maldives in the 2022 Asian Cup qualifiers, winning 16-0.

Still, he warned against underestimating their opponents.

“In recent years, countries in the region have made significant improvements in women’s football, so we cannot afford to be complacent,” Chung said.

He pointed to a recent friendly where Ho Chi Minh City women’s club narrowly defeated Abu Dhabi women’s team 5-4, suggesting the UAE’s strength lies in physical play and naturalized players.

“Guam are a new opponent for us, but from what we know, they are physically strong,” he added.

To prepare for the qualifiers, Vietnam will begin their first training camp in May and host international friendlies in Hanoi.

The Vietnam Football Federation and the coaching staff are finalizing the team’s preparation schedule.

Chung said the squad will include a mix of experienced players and young talent selected from the U19 league and the National Cup.

The roster will also serve as the foundation for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games later this year.

In the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals, to be held in Australia, the four quarterfinal winners will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four quarterfinal losers will play in a separate round for two more direct slots.

The remaining two teams from that round will compete in intercontinental play-offs.

Vietnam made its FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2023 in New Zealand.

With North Korea returning to international competition, the path to qualification is expected to be more challenging.

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