Vietnam's national team holds its first training session, aiming high at the Southeast Asian Championship

On the morning of March 16, at the Chánh Hưng ward futsal arena (Ho Chi Minh City), the Vietnam national futsal team officially commenced its first training session to prepare for the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship.

Speaking ahead of the training session, head coach Diego Giustozzi assessed the Vietnam national futsal team has made positive strides in professional skill level following the continental tournament. He stated: “The Vietnam national futsal team has demonstrated significant progress by having the opportunity to perform and play well against strong Asian teams like Thailand or Indonesia. I am satisfied with what the young players have shown, but we still need to improve in many areas.”

According to the Argentine strategist, the shortcoming of the young players is practical match experience. “Our young players have performed well, but they still need more matches to accumulate experience. The best way to improve oneself is through actual matches. Only when facing specific match situations can a player mature,”Coach Diego Giustozzi emphasized.

Alongside the return of Hồ Văn Ý, during this training camp, the coaching staff also continues to provide opportunities to some young players such as Thạc Hiếu and Văn Giàu. Regarding this decision, Coach Diego Giustozzi said the team needs to gradually rejuvenate the squad and prepare for long-term objectives: “We must give opportunities to the young players. For example, Thạc Hiếu has performed well wearing the national U19 jersey. We have about two years to prepare for the 2028 Asian Championship with the crucial goal of securing a World Cup berth. Therefore, this is the appropriate time for young players to gradually be tested and honed in the national team environment.”

According to the plan, the Vietnam national futsal team will maintain daily training in Ho Chi Minh City before traveling to Thailand to participate in the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, held from April 6 to 12. In this tournament, the Vietnam national futsal team is in Group A alongside Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and host Thailand.