2026 Asian Futsal Draw: Vietnam in the same group as Thailand
The Vietnamese futsal team is in Group B with Thailand (current runner-up), Kuwait and Lebanon in Jakarta. The goal is to compete for a quarter-final ticket from January 27 to February 7, 2026.
On the afternoon of November 5 in Jakarta, the draw for the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship Finals placed the Vietnamese futsal team in Group B with Thailand (current runner-up), Kuwait and Lebanon. This is a group that is considered very difficult, but still opens up the opportunity to compete for a place in the quarterfinals for coach Diego Giustozzi and his team.
Group B "death" and the chance to continue
According to the draw results, Vietnam will face three strong opponents in the region: Thailand (current continental runner-up), Kuwait and Lebanon. With this situation, every point in the group stage is decisive for the goal of winning one of the two leading positions to enter the quarterfinals.
| Group B 2026 AFC Futsal Championship | Note |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | |
| Thailand | Current runner-up |
| Kuwait | |
| Lebanon |
According to the FIFA men's futsal rankings announced on August 29, 2025, Vietnam is ranked 26th in the world and is in the second seed group. This position emphasizes the current competitiveness of the team, while also strengthening the goal of advancing in a tough group.
Current position and memories of the 2016 semi-finals
Vietnam Futsal is no stranger to the continental stage. The milestone of reaching the semi-finals in 2016, thereby winning a ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time, is still an important support in terms of experience. With a new breeze from young factors appearing in recent years, the team receives many expectations to continue to leave their mark at the 2026 tournament.
Tournament format and competition time frame
The 2026 AFC Futsal Championship will take place in Jakarta from January 27 to February 7, 2026, bringing together the 16 strongest teams on the continent. The teams will be divided into four groups, playing a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, then compete in a knockout match to determine the champion.
Preparation plan of Vietnam futsal team
The team is currently actively preparing for the 33rd SEA Games with 20 players in the best form being called up. After the Southeast Asian Games, the focus will shift to the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship campaign.
According to the plan, the team will have a quality international friendly match with a top Asian futsal team, or go to Indonesia a week early for training and competition. The goal is to complete the preparation before entering the crucial group stage matches.
Seed group number 2 according to FIFA rankings on August 29, 2025
| Team | World ranking |
|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | 19 |
| Vietnam | 26 |
| Afghanistan | 33 |
| Iraq | 41 |
Being in the second seed group shows positive evaluation for Vietnamese futsal before the tournament starts, and also adds meaning to the confrontations in the group stage.
