Southeast Asian fans react strongly as Vietnam and Thailand clash in the FIFA rankings.

Football fans across Southeast Asia are thrilled by the competition between Vietnam and Thailand on the FIFA rankings.

The latest shifts on the FIFA world ranking are bringing encouraging signs for Vietnam in the bid to claim the top spot in Southeast Asia. While Thailand lost points after a 2-2 draw with Kuwait, the Vietnamese team did not play any official international friendlies during the June FIFA window but still gained ground as the gap with their historic rivals continued to shrink. Thailand currently sits 94th in the world with 1,250.76 points, while Vietnam ranks 99th with 1,225.68 points.

Notably, the decision to skip friendlies and instead take the entire squad to South Korea for training by coach Kim Sang-sik has sparked considerable debate on Southeast Asian football forums. Given that every FIFA point can influence seeding in major tournaments, many believe Vietnam is adopting a pragmatic but more effective approach compared to its regional rivals.

Some fans argue that Vietnam made a very smart choice by avoiding international friendlies during this FIFA Days period. In their view, training in South Korea helps players improve fitness, tactics, and technical quality without risking any FIFA points. Looking at Thailand's case after the Kuwait draw, many are even more convinced that Coach Kim Sang-sik's decision was the right one.

Other supporters point out that Thailand has good reasons to hold friendlies in order to keep up match sharpness, but the coaching staff should also pay greater attention to the points factor. In modern football, FIFA rankings are not just a matter of prestige—they directly affect draws for World Cup qualifiers, the Asian Cup, and many other international competitions.

Some additional opinions suggest that the race on the FIFA rankings is now more gripping than ever. The distance between Vietnam and Thailand is no longer as large as before, while Vietnam still has plenty of chances to accrue points in official tournaments. If Thailand keeps dropping points in upcoming friendlies, the whole picture could shift dramatically.

Another fan remarked that Vietnam moving up to become Southeast Asia's top team on the FIFA rankings in the future would come as no surprise. According to them, Vietnam is the current AFF Cup champion, has a stable squad, and follows a fairly clear long‑term development strategy. Those factors are enough for Coach Kim Sang‑sik's side to compete on equal terms with Thailand.

Meanwhile, many supporters believe that a team's FIFA ranking is always a key measure of its consistency. A title can be won in a single tournament, but maintaining a high ranking demands long‑term accumulation. Therefore, if Vietnam continues its current form and succeeds at the 2026 AFF Cup, overtaking Thailand to become Southeast Asia's number‑one team would be a fully deserved outcome.