Vietnam U17 women's team misses World Cup: Praise from Thailand after courageous defeat.

The historic dream of Vietnam's U17 Women's World Cup qualification has been put on hold after a 0-2 defeat against the superior Australian U17 women's team in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Asian U17 Championship. Despite the disappointing result, the determined performance of the young coach's players left a strong impression, not only on domestic fans but also on the wider Southeast Asian football community.

A heartbreaking moment in 3 minutes

Entering the match as the underdog, the Vietnam U17 women's team opted for a deep defensive style, prioritizing solidity in their own half. For the first 20 minutes, the red-shirted defense performed relatively well under the command of goalkeeper Cam My. However, the difference in physique and fitness began to show as the opponent increased the tempo of their pressing.

The turning point of the match came in the 28th minute, when, amidst a scramble in the penalty area, Frideriki Karaberis quickly pounced on the rebound to open the scoring for the Australian team. Before the Vietnamese girls could recover, a second blow arrived just 3 minutes later. In the 31st minute, Leyla Hussein delivered a tricky cross, directly doubling Australia's lead. Two quick goals in the first half put the Vietnamese U17 women's team in an increasingly difficult position.

Respect from Thai fans

Immediately after the final whistle, the defeat of the Vietnam U17 women's team became a hot topic of discussion on Southeast Asian football forums, especially among Thai fans. Instead of sarcastic remarks, most opinions expressed admiration for the never-give-up fighting spirit of the Vietnamese representatives.

A Thai fan shared on social media: "Vietnam played very hard in the second half. They didn't give up even though they were 2 goals down. Australia was too physically strong, but the young Vietnamese girls still made things difficult for them at many points." Another account commented optimistically: "Southeast Asian youth women's football is clearly improving. Vietnam lost today, but their warrior spirit is commendable. It's a pity that the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup was so close."

Unsuccessful attempt and lessons for the future.

In the second half, the Vietnam U17 women's team made personnel and tactical adjustments in an attempt to find an equalizer. Their clearest chance came in the 58th minute when Minh Ánh broke free, but pressure from the opposing defender caused her to lose her balance in the final shot. Conversely, the Australian U17 women's team, with their lead, deliberately slowed down the pace of the game, breaking down Vietnam's attacks to secure the victory.

Despite missing out on the World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Championship is an unexpected success for this young generation of players. The experience against top opponents like Australia will be a valuable lesson for them to mature and continue to be pillars of the national team in the near future. The recognition from fans in the region, especially Thailand, shows that the position of Vietnamese women's football is becoming increasingly solid.