Vietnamese Football: A Symphony of Unfinished Dreams

Tonight, as I sit before the screen, rewatching the footage of the Vietnam national team at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, I recall another night, nearly a decade ago. A night when an entire nation erupted in joy at My Dinh Stadium. But now, as Vietnamese football stands at the threshold of history, I feel something different. Not excitement, but a deep contemplation of the long journey ahead. Vietnamese football is at a turning point. It is not just a story of victories, but a story of how we redefine ourselves on the continental football map. When I look at the FIFA rankings, when I look at the performances of Vietnamese players abroad, I realize we are witnessing an unprecedented transformation. Let's talk about numbers. In the past 5 years, the number of Vietnamese players going abroad has tripled. From names like Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Cong Phuong, to the new generation like Nguyen Dinh Bac, Phan Tuan Tai. Each journey is a trial by fire, each failure is a lesson. But more importantly, each experience is gradually changing the DNA of Vietnamese football. I remember once, in a small coffee shop in Hanoi, I heard an elderly fan say: "In the old days, we only knew how to defend and wait. Now, the young ones know how to control the ball, know how to attack in an organized way." That statement made me think. Indeed, Vietnamese football has changed, but are we truly ready for bigger challenges? The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are a clear testament. The Vietnam national team is no longer the underdog. They have had matches on par with strong opponents like Iraq and Japan. But the decisive moment, the moment the entire nation awaits, is still ahead. And that is when we need to seriously reflect on what has been done and what is still missing. Let's talk about tactics. Under coach Philippe Troussier, the Vietnam national team has shifted to a possession-based, high-pressing style of play. This is a revolutionary change compared to the defensive counter-attacking style under Park Hang-seo. But this transition is not easy. It requires patience, trust, and especially a generation of players with sufficient technical ability to execute it. Data from recent matches shows that Vietnam's possession rate has increased from 42% to 55% in matches against regional opponents. The number of successful passes has also increased significantly. But more importantly, the number of dangerous chances created from pressing situations has doubled. This shows that the new style is gradually taking effect. However, there is an issue that few people mention. It is the imbalance between the lines. When pressing high, Vietnam's defense is often left exposed. In the match against Iraq, we paid the price for this imbalance. Both goals conceded came from quick counter-attacks by the opponent. This is a problem that coach Troussier needs to solve. But football is not just tactics. It is also a story of people, of destinies. I remember Nguyen Quang Hai, the player who was once the number one hope of Vietnamese football. After years of competing abroad, he returned more mature, but also carrying scars. His journey is a lesson about the harshness of top-level football. As for young players like Nguyen Dinh Bac, Phan Tuan Tai, they carry a burning desire. They are not afraid of failure, because they understand that failure is part of the journey. They are writing new pages in the history of Vietnamese football, not with flowery words, but with sweat and tears on the pitch. I want to talk about another aspect, one that few people notice. It is the development of youth academies. In the past 10 years, academies like PVF, HAGL JMG have created a generation of players with better technique, better tactical thinking. But are we doing enough? Are we creating players who can compete at the continental level? The answer is not yet. We still lack modern training centers, lack good coaches, lack a systematic competition structure for young age groups. These are systemic issues that cannot be solved overnight. But if we don't start now, we will forever lag behind. Look at Thailand, our traditional rival. They have built a systematic youth football structure for many years. They have quality youth tournaments, modern academies, a deep football culture. As a result, they have had more successful players abroad, a more stable national team. But I don't want to be pessimistic. I believe Vietnamese football is on the right track. The positive signals are clear. The emergence of overseas Vietnamese players like Filip Nguyen, Nguyen Xuan Son has improved the squad quality. Investment from businesses in football is also increasing. But all of that is still not enough. We need a revolution in thinking. We need to change the way we view football, not just as a game, but as an industry. We need to invest in infrastructure, in people, in sports science. We need to create an environment where young players can develop comprehensively, both technically and mentally. I remember a quote from a famous sports journalist: "Football is a mirror reflecting society." If we want Vietnamese football to develop, we need a developed society. We need better education, better healthcare, a better living environment. All of these affect the development of football. But I also believe that football can be a driving force to change society. When the national team plays, the whole country looks in one direction. When young players succeed, they become role models for the next generation. Football has the power to connect people, to create faith and hope. So what do we need to do? First, we need patience. The development of football cannot happen overnight. We need a long-term strategy, a clear vision. We need to invest in youth academies, in coaches, in infrastructure. Second, we need to create a healthy competitive environment. The V-League needs to be more professional, more attractive. Clubs need to have sustainable development strategies, not just chasing immediate results. We need to create a complete football ecosystem, from youth tournaments to the national team. Third, we need to open up to the world. We need to learn from developed football nations, from Japan, South Korea, from Europe. We need to create conditions for young players to go abroad, to experience top-level football environments. Each player going abroad is an ambassador of Vietnamese football, a bridge between us and the world. Finally, we need to believe in ourselves. Vietnamese football has made remarkable progress in recent years. We have won the AFF Cup, reached the Asian Cup quarter-finals. These successes show that we have potential, we have ability. But potential only becomes reality when we know how to exploit it. Tonight, as I look at the screen, I see a new generation of players standing up. They are no longer shy boys, but true warriors. They are not afraid to face strong teams, but see it as an opportunity to prove themselves. They are writing a new story, a story of courage, of perseverance, of faith. Vietnamese football is standing at the threshold of history. We can step through, or we can stop. But I believe, with what has been shown, with what is being built, we will step through. Not because we are the strongest, but because we are the most determined. Not because we are perfect, but because we never stop improving. And when that happens, when we stand on the world stage, we will not just be victors, but storytellers. We will tell the story of a small nation that never gave up on its dreams. We will tell the story of young men who dared to dream and dared to make their dreams come true. Vietnamese football, a symphony of unfinished dreams. But every note, every melody, is being written by people who dare to think, dare to act. And I believe this symphony will have a happy ending. Not because we are lucky, but because we deserve it. Look forward. Believe in good things. Let football be a source of pride, a driving force, a bridge between us. And remember, every match, every goal, every defeat, is part of the journey. Our journey, the journey of Vietnamese football. When the pitch speaks, when the ball rolls, when hearts beat together, we understand that football is not just a game. It is life, it is faith, it is hope. And Vietnamese football, with all its ups and downs, with all its dreams, will forever be an inseparable part of us. Tonight, I do not sleep. I sit writing these lines, with a strong belief in the future. Because I know, when dawn breaks, a new day will begin. And with it, new dreams will be nurtured. Vietnamese football, keep dreaming, keep fighting, keep writing glorious pages of history. The pitch is a page, each season is a long verse. And we, the football lovers, are the ones writing those verses. Write beautifully, write meaningfully, so that future generations can be proud of what we have done. Vietnamese football, a symphony of dreams, will never end.