Women’s World Cup 2023: Everything you need to know about Vietnam

Vietnam′s World Cup 2023 fixtures, betting odds and statistics

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How did Vietnam qualify?

Vietnam qualified via the 2022 Asia Cup. They lost their first two group games, against Japan and Korea Republic, and, despite only managing a 2-2 draw with Myanmar, advanced as a best-ranked third-place finisher. They then lost to China in the quarter-finals, so dropped into the Asian play-offs, in which Vietnam beat Thailand 2-0 and Chinese Taipei 2-1, thereby qualifying for the World Cup.

Vietnam’s major tournament record:

World Cup

Best World Cup result: Set to make their debut.

AFC Asia Cup

Best Asia Cup result: Quarter-finals- 2022.

Vietnam at World Cup 2023

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This’ll be Vietnam’s first-ever World Cup appearance, men’s or women’s, so will they leave New Zealand with some points to their name?

The Golden Star Warriors’ path to this tournament was frankly amazing.

In the quarter-finals, despite taking the lead through Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung, Vietnam were eventually swatted aside by Korea Republic in Navi Mumbai, thereby dropping into the Asian World Cup play-offs.

There, they managed to beat both Thailand and Chinese Taipei, victories that booked their place at the World Cup for the very first time.

So will Vietnam be competitive in a very challenging Group E?

Well, encouragingly, they took on Germany in a friendly in Offenbach recently, and were only beaten 2-1, with Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã pulling a goal back in stoppage time.

At this tournament itself, Vietnam’s campaign kicks off in Auckland against reigning back-to-back World Champions USA.

The Stars and Stripes famously beat Thailand 13-0 at the World Cup four years ago, with another huge victory, if not quite that emphatic, expected at Eden Park.

After that, the Golden Star Warriors will face Portugal in Hamilton and then 2019 runners-up Netherlands in Dunedin and, without wanting to write them off, it would be a minor miracle if Mai Đức Chung got any points.

Vietnam′s key players: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung

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Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung’s international goal-scoring record is frankly outrageous, scoring 54 times for her country, doing so in less than 80 caps.

She netted against both Myanmar and China PR at last year’s Asia Cup, a key figure as they qualified for the World Cup via that tournament.

In 2015, she famously scored twice against Malaysia at the AFF Women’s Championship, this going viral because both were direct corner goals or ‘Olimpicos’, one scored with her left foot and the other her right.

At club level, the 29 year old has spent her entire career with Phong Phú Hà Nam, winning the league title in 2018.

Vietnam′s key players: Phạm Hải Yến

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If Vietnam do score their first-ever World Cup goal this summer, Phạm Hải Yến could be the player to provide that historic moment.

To date, she’s scored 41 times for her country, most-recently netting against Cambodia in the Southeast Asian Games.

The striker plays for Hà Nội WFC, winning three league titles, most recently the league’s top-scorer in 2020.

Vietnam′s key players: Huỳnh Như

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The only member of this squad who doesn’t play domestically is captain Huỳnh Như, who left Hồ Chí Minh City for Portuguese outfit Länk FC Vilaverdense last year.

She scored five goals in this season’s Campeonato Nacional Feminino, as well as twice in the Taça de Portugal, with Länk finishing sixth.

At international level, the 31 year old striker has scored a ridiculous 67 times in just 72 appearances, named Vietnamese women’s player of the year on five occasions.

So, will Huỳnh Như become the first Vietnam player ever to score at a World Cup?

Vietnam′s possible starting line-up for World Cup 2023

Vietnam′s full squad for World Cup 2023

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Group E table