Vietnam faces setbacks in the World Cup qualification race

Philippines' 2-0 win against Iran has notably affected Vietnam women's team's opportunity to progress further and target the 2027 World Cup.

Philippines' 2-0 victory over Iran in the final match of Group A in the 2026 Asian Women's Football Championship has significantly altered the landscape of the race for advancement tickets, directly impacting Vietnam women's team's World Cup qualification prospects. This outcome has intensified the competition among third-placed teams more than ever.

After defeating Iran, Philippines concluded the group stage as the third-place team in Group A. This team currently holds 3 points with a goal difference of -2 and ranks second among the best-performing third-placed teams. This inadvertently adds pressure on Vietnam women's team in the race for quarter-final tickets.

In Group C, Vietnam women's team also stands third with 3 points and a goal difference of 0. However, a major challenge awaits coach Mai Duc Chung's squad in the final match as they face a very strong opponent, Japan. This match is considered the key factor determining the team's advancement potential.

Theoretically, Vietnam women's team will secure an advancement ticket if they do not lose to Japan. In case of a defeat, the red-shirted team still has an opportunity if they maintain their third place in Group C and simultaneously, the match between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh does not produce a heavy victory for the Central Asian representative.

Currently, Uzbekistan is bottom of the group with 0 points and a goal difference of -6. Nevertheless, this team still has a chance to reverse the situation if they secure a victory with a margin of at least 4 goals against Bangladesh. This scenario is entirely possible as Bangladesh is rated considerably lower.

Meanwhile, Vietnam women's team will enter a challenging match against Japan – a team that has won all their last 10 encounters with a margin of at least 2 goals. However, Japan's early qualification might lead them to rotate their squad. This is seen as an opportunity for coach Mai Duc Chung's players to strive for a favorable result to keep hopes alive for participating in the 2027 World Cup.