Vietnam in the same group as Thailand at the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship
Vietnam futsal team is in group B with Thailand, Kuwait and Lebanon; the tournament will take place from January 27 to February 7, 2026 in Jakarta, the top two teams will enter the quarter-finals; then the knockout stage.
Vietnam's futsal team is placed in Group B of the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship, along with Thailand, Kuwait and Lebanon. The tournament will be held from January 27 to February 7, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the group stage, the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals; the following rounds will be played in a knockout format.
Group B situation: familiar opponents of Vietnamese futsal
The draw brings Vietnam up against three very familiar opponents. Kuwait and Lebanon are teams that coach Diego Giustozzi and his team have often met and played friendly matches with in the past, while Thailand is a regional rival. Notably, Vietnam and Thailand may face each other at the SEA Games before entering the Asian tournament.
With only the top two teams advancing, the margin of error in the group stage is very small. The effectiveness in each match and the ability to manage risks at pivotal moments will determine the chances of getting through the group.
Remaining groups
- Table A:Indonesia (host), Kyrgyzstan, South Korea.
- Table C:Japan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Australia.
- Table D:Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia.
Competition format of the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship
The final round consists of two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage. The 16 teams are divided into four groups, playing a round-robin to determine rankings. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals. From the quarter-finals, the following matches, including the semi-finals and the final, are played in a knockout format.
The tournament takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia from January 27 to February 7, 2026.
2016 highlights and current expectations
The Vietnamese futsal team reached the semi-finals of the 2016 Asian Futsal Championship, thereby qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time in history. With their current position and clear progress in recent times, coach Diego Giustozzi and his team continue to receive great expectations as they embark on a new journey in the continental arena.
