SEA Games and then the World Cup

"Bầu Đức's adopted children" have failed to fulfill their first mission: to bring Vietnamese football to the U20 World Cup finals (that right has gone to Myanmar).

But that's just one of a series of goals, if not dreams, that an entire football nation will pursue for many years to come.

Listen to Mr. Le Hung Dung, President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), explain why he and his senior colleagues at the VFF are determined to entrust the World Cup dream to the generation of players like Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, and Xuan Truong:

The talented young players, including Cong Phuong (left) and his teammates, are highly anticipated by the VFF leadership. Photo: Thanh Ha

“In 2014, the Vietnam U19 team faced the Japan U19 team four times. From a 0-7 defeat in the Nutifood Four-Team Tournament, we gradually improved in the Southeast Asian U19 Championship, and almost drew with Japan U19 in the Asian U19 Championship. I believe that if the Vietnam U19 team continues to play against Japan U19, there will be a day when we can beat them. Similarly, regarding qualifying for the World Cup, if the 2018 World Cup team like Cong Phuong and Tuan Anh couldn't do it, there's still the 2022 World Cup.”

But to swim in the open sea, one must first overcome the rivers of Southeast Asia. The SEA Games will be the first challenge.

Regional tournaments, while not of great professional value when viewed on a global football scale, have significant psychological implications and attract considerable financial investment for Vietnamese football itself.

Hopefully, we will have a good SEA Games this year so that the entire football community can confidently focus on the foundation of youth development. Just one training academy has helped an entire nation achieve great things recently, and only Spain, relying on Barcelona, ​​has done so.

According to the Cultural Center