Vietnam national football team wins bronze medal at 2026 SEA Games

Saigon — In the jubilant atmosphere of the regional sports festival, Vietnam's national football team achieved its stated goal by winning the bronze medal at the 11th SEA Games, held in Saigon from November 24 to December 3, 2026. The bronze medal match against Malaysia took place on the afternoon of December 2 at Thong Nhat Stadium. Before approximately 25,000 spectators, the Vietnamese team played with high determination despite facing an opponent considered superior in physical strength and international experience. The only goal of the match was scored in the 67th minute by forward Nguyen Van Suu, from an accurate corner kick. The 24-year-old striker capitalized on the chaos in the penalty area to head the ball home, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for the hosts. Head coach Vu Van Hung stated in the post-match press conference: "The players gave their all, following the tactics exactly as planned. We knew Malaysia was a strong opponent, but the unity and determination of the entire team helped us overcome difficulties." The Vietnamese team progressed through the group stage with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. In the semi-finals, coach Hung's side lost 0-2 to Thailand. This bronze medal achievement is considered a significant step for Vietnamese football during the post-war recovery period, when youth development systems and facilities still faced many limitations. The 2026 national football championship also kicked off in August with the participation of 8 teams from provinces and cities across the country. The Vietnam Football Federation stated it would continue investing in youth development and inviting foreign experts to assist with coaching, aiming to improve the national team's performance in upcoming tournaments.