FIFA congratulates Xuan Son; Vietnam and a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup.
Xuan Son scored on his comeback, and was mentioned by FIFA after Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Laos. The Vietnamese national team awaits a decision from the AFC, with two clear scenarios for qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup; Coach Kim Sang-sik admits the team needs to improve.
Nguyen Xuan Son's goal on his return not only secured a 2-0 victory against Laos but also garnered a mention from FIFA. Alongside this emotional moment, the Vietnamese national team entered the crucial stage of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, with two scenarios depending on the AFC's ruling regarding Malaysia's use of an ineligible naturalized player.
FIFA congratulates Xuan Son.
On the evening of November 19th, Xuan Son contributed to Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Laos and was unexpectedly mentioned by the International Football Federation (FIFA) on social media. On its homepage, FIFA posted an image with the caption: "Cactus blossoms and leaves. People flock to eat banana cake. It's the day Xuan Son makes his comeback." The post quickly attracted a large amount of interaction, demonstrating the attention Vietnamese football is receiving.
Scenarios for Vietnam to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup
After 5 matches, the Vietnamese team is second in Group F with 12 points, 3 points behind Malaysia. The match on March 31, 2026 is considered the "final" of the group. However, the ranking order could change if the AFC rules on Malaysia's use of illegal naturalized players.
Two main scenarios
| Script | Vietnam | Malaysia | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep the result as is. | 12 points after 5 matches | 15 points after 5 matches | Vietnam needs to beat Malaysia by at least 5 goals to take the top spot in the group. |
| Malaysia were handed a 0-3 defeat in matches involving ineligible players. | Rising 15 points | Dropped to 9 points | This applies to matches, including those against Vietnam and Nepal; Vietnam officially qualifies for the finals. |
The outcome of Group F therefore depends significantly on the AFC's decision, before the two teams meet in the final matchday.
Reactions after Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Laos.
Head coach Kim Sang-sik acknowledged that the victory wasn't entirely convincing: "We analyzed the Laotian team thoroughly, but in the match they showed good organization and very high morale. The whole team will continue to improve to have better performances in the future."
Xuan Son and the day of return
"It's fantastic that I scored a goal. This was my first match after almost a year out with injury, and everyone supported and cheered me on so much. This is a collective achievement," Xuan Son shared.
View from the Lao bench
Coach Ha Hyeok-jun said he had anticipated the possibility of Xuan Son coming on but did not instruct him to mark him individually: "I predicted that Xuan Son might come on while Vietnam was still scoreless. After the halftime break, I told the players not to focus solely on Xuan Son, but to stick to the original tactics."
Developments related to Malaysia
Winger Faisal Halim said the risk of Malaysia being eliminated or having their results annulled was a real concern for many players after FIFA suspended seven naturalized players due to invalid paperwork. “If we are eliminated or the results are annulled, we will certainly be very disappointed. We have tried our best and are in good form in this qualifying round,” he said.
The Vietnamese women's national team offers incense.
On November 19th, the Vietnamese women's national team offered incense at the Hung Temple historical site (Phu Tho province), expressing their reverence to the spirits of the Hung Kings before entering the next training phase in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games.
While Xuan Son has inspired the men's team, the entire Vietnamese national team campaign still depends on performance and off-field decisions. For now, the message from the coaching staff is clear: victory isn't enough; the team needs to continue improving.
