With the top three teams earning spots in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025, the Vietnamese squad is gearing up for one of their biggest challenges yet.

The draw for the 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship has placed Vietnam in Group B, where they will compete against powerhouse Iran, Hong Kong (China), and the Philippines. The tournament serves as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025, set to be hosted in the Philippines.

Iran, the reigning champions, pose the biggest challenge in the group. Meanwhile, Hong Kong (China) is considered a winnable matchup, and the Philippines, despite being the World Cup hosts, are not among the traditional futsal powerhouses.

Group A consists of China, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia, while Group C features Japan, Bahrain, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Path to the World Cup: Vietnam’s challenge

The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

The top three teams from the tournament will earn direct qualification for the Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025.

The AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2025 will take place from May 7 to May 18, 2025, in Inner Mongolia, China.

Experts believe that Vietnam has a strong chance of making it to the knockout stage, with Hong Kong (China) and the Philippines being relatively manageable opponents.

However, the real challenge awaits in the quarterfinals. If Vietnam tops Group B, they are likely to face either Thailand or Japan - both formidable teams.

Finishing as the runner-up in the group would set up a clash against Chinese Taipei or Australia, two traditionally strong sides in Asian futsal.

Dai Nam