The Australian Embassy hosted a celebration party for the Vietnam women's national team ahead of the 2026 Asian Cup finals.

On January 22nd in Hanoi, the Australian Embassy hosted a dignified and intimate celebration for the Vietnam women's football team prior to their journey to Australia for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals, taking place from March 1 to 21, 2026.

Attending the event were Ms. Renée Deschamps – Acting Australian Ambassador to Vietnam; Ms. Nguyễn Phương Hòa – Director General of the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Minh – Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism). Representing the Vietnam Football Federation were Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Vũ – Vice President; Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Hội – Standing Member of the VFF Executive Committee; Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú – General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation, along with players, coaching staff of the women's national team, representatives of partners, media agencies, and delegations from other countries participating in the tournament.

In her speech, Ms. Renée Deschamps congratulated the Vietnam women's team on qualifying for the finals of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, while emphasizing the role of sports as a bridge connecting people and enhancing cooperation between Australia and Vietnam.

Ms. Renée Deschamps affirmed that Australia is proud to welcome the Vietnam women's football team to compete on home soil at this premier continental tournament, expressing confidence in their determination, unity, and the strong development of women's football in Vietnam within the region.

Speaking at the party, Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Minh, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports, sincerely thanked the Australian Embassy in Vietnam for organizing this meaningful gathering, reflecting their care and support for women's football and Vietnamese sports. He emphasized that the Vietnam women's team’s participation in the Asian Cup finals is a shared joy and pride for Vietnamese sports, with athletes competing not only for the national colors but also carrying the image, spirit, and aspiration of Vietnamese sports to the world stage.

He highly appreciated the growing cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, particularly acknowledging the active support of Australian organizations during Vietnamese sports teams’ training and competition in Australia. He expressed hope that in the future, the partnership between the two countries, especially in sports, will continue to strengthen and expand further.

On behalf of the Vietnam Football Federation, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú – General Secretary of the VFF – respectfully thanked the Australian Embassy for their warm, thoughtful, and sincere hospitality extended to the Vietnam women's team ahead of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals.

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú highlighted that at important milestones of Vietnamese women's football, from their first participation in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup finals to the journey toward the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals, the team has always received valuable attention, encouragement, and support from the Australian Government and Embassy. This has been a great source of morale, boosting the team's confidence and ambition to continue advancing on the continental stage.

The event also contributed to further strengthening the cooperative and friendly relations between Vietnam and Australia in sports and people-to-people exchanges, based on the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The highlight of the program was the toast ceremony between the team representatives and guests, symbolizing the readiness of the Vietnam women's national team before entering one of the most important tournaments in Asian women's football. The atmosphere was further enlivened by interactive activities and quizzes about Australian and Vietnamese culture, people, and the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, hosted by Australia, will feature 12 of the continent’s top women's national teams, competing in the cities of Perth, Gold Coast, and Sydney, contributing to the promotion of women's football and sports development in the region.

(According to VFF)