Vietnam's 2026 World Cup Journey: From Training Ground to the Big Stage Lights

The training ground of the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center on a Tuesday morning in early March had no sound of crowds cheering. Only the sound of studded boots scraping on dew-covered grass and familiar calls between players. I stood at the corner of the field, where I have stood for six years, recording what I see and hear. Today, the national team begins their first training session of the gathering period preparing for the final round of World Cup 2026 qualifying. The atmosphere felt different. Not the tension of do-or-die matches, but a quiet focus, a silent determination that I have only seen in teams that truly believe in themselves. The context of this gathering lies within a larger picture: Vietnamese football stands before a historic opportunity. For the first time, the national team has reached the final round of a World Cup qualifying campaign, where only 4.5 slots are reserved for the Asian region. The journey from the second qualifying round to this point is not a fairy tale. It is the result of a deliberate team-building process, starting from young player generations trained systematically over a decade ago. But the final qualifying round is an entirely different level. Vietnam's opponents are among the continent's leading football nations: Japan, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and China. These are teams with squad depth, extensive international experience, and superior financial resources. What I observed in today's training session was not in the technical plays or tactical drills the coaching staff introduced. What stood out was how the players moved, how they communicated with each other, and especially their eyes. There was an unusual focus, a seriousness I have not seen in previous gatherings. Nguyen Quang Hai, the captain and soul of the team, spent more time talking to young players. He was not just directing positions, but passing on valuable international experience. I recall what I witnessed at previous World Cups - how big teams prepare for their most important matches not just with tactics, but by building a solid team spirit. From a tactical perspective, the head coach has made notable adjustments. The 3-4-3 formation he has applied in recent friendlies shows new flexibility. Instead of being locked into a fixed system, the team can now switch flexibly between different formations depending on the opponent. This is particularly important when facing superior teams like Japan or Iran. In the past, Vietnamese football was often criticized for lacking tactical flexibility. But what I saw in this session shows a clear shift in mindset. Players are required to read situations and make their own decisions on the pitch, rather than just following pre-set drills. Data from the second qualifying round matches paints an interesting picture. Vietnam's average ball possession rate was 48%, but their chance conversion rate was higher than the regional average. This shows the team's style is not based on dominating opponents, but on efficiency in each play. However, the big question is whether this efficiency can be maintained against much higher quality defenses. From my experience following matches, at this level, the gap in quality is often narrowed by physical factors and 90-minute concentration. One weakness I noticed in training sessions is the ability to withstand high pressing from opponents. Top Asian teams like Japan and South Korea often use very aggressive pressing tactics, which could cause many difficulties for Vietnam's defense. I have witnessed many Southeast Asian teams fail not because of lack of technique, but because they could not handle constant pressure from opponents. This is an issue that needs to be thoroughly addressed before entering the final qualifying round. But there is something outsiders do not see: the team's mental maturity. I remember the years following Vietnam's U23 team at regional tournaments, when they were often defeated by psychological pressure at crucial moments. Now, watching how the players handle difficult situations in training, I see a calmness that was not there before. They no longer rush decisions, no longer panic when pressured. This maturity did not come overnight, but is the result of accumulating experience through years of international competition. From a long-term perspective, Vietnam's football development is not just about the national team's achievements. Young player generations being trained at academies nationwide are increasingly focused on tactics and physical conditioning. I have visited many youth training centers in Vietnam over the years, and I can see a clear difference between the current generation and the previous one. Today's young players have access to more modern coaching methods, with comprehensive development in technique, physical conditioning, and tactical thinking. This is an important foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnamese football. The immediate challenge is enormous. The final qualifying round of World Cup 2026 will be the harshest test Vietnamese football has ever faced. But looking at what I witnessed in today's training session, I believe the team is on the right track. Not because they will defeat stronger opponents, but because they understand that success at this level does not come from luck or momentary inspiration. It comes from thorough preparation, from building a strong collective, and from believing in themselves. As I left the training ground that afternoon, the sun was beginning to set in the west. The players continued training under the lights, no one rushing to leave. I stopped for a moment to observe them a few more minutes, and I realized that what I was witnessing was not just a training session preparing for a match. It was part of a longer journey, a journey that Vietnamese football began long ago and will continue for many years to come. The ball rolls on, the people remain - and this team, with all the difficulties ahead, is writing a new chapter in the history of Vietnamese football. The biggest question is not whether Vietnam can qualify for the World Cup. The bigger question is: can Vietnamese football sustain this development momentum in the long term? Can successes at youth level be translated into achievements at national team level? Will the youth training system continue to produce talented player generations? These are questions no one can answer right now, but they will shape the future of Vietnamese football in the next decade. And when I look at the young, determined faces on the training ground today, I have a feeling that the answer may be more positive than many fear.