What to expect from Vietnam's 1st ever Women's World Cup appearance

It will be the opening game in Group E at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the other two sides in the group, Portugal and Netherlands, facing off the next day.

Vietnam, currently ranked 32nd in the FIFA World Rankings, are coached by Mai Duc Chung, who successfully led them to wins over Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the playoffs to reach their maiden World Cup.

They will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form after successfully defending their title in the Southeast Asian Games in May for a fourth successive time.

Vietnamese women football players after defeating Myanmar to the final of SEA Games 32 in Cambodia, May 15, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Their 2-0 triumph over Myanmar in the final was further evidence of their footballing dominance in the region, but they will face much sterner tests on the world stage.

Vietnam’s path to World Cup

Vietnam’s entry into the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand was sealed by their success in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asia Cup.

Their hopes of reaching the final for the first time were also boosted by FIFA’s decision to increase the number of teams from 24 to 32, giving Asia six slots in the World Cup for the first time.

Despite the fortuitous events off the field, Vietnam faced adversities during their qualification campaign. The toughest challenge was when 20 out of 23 squad members tested positive for Covid-19 days before crucial matches against the Republic of Korea, Japan and Myanmar.

In the event, they were only able to gain one point from these three matches.

Fortunately, they were helped out by Thailand’s shocking 3-0 defeat to Chinese Taipei.

Many expect Chung to opt for a more defensive 4-5-1 formation at the World Cup in the hope of frustrating superior opposition and converting the few opportunities they create in front of goal.

Star player Huynh Nhu is expected to be the lone striker. The 31-year-old has scored 67 goals in just 72 international matches, and is the only player in the squad to play outside the country: for Lank Vilaverdense in Portugal. Vietnam’s slim hopes at the tournament will likely rest on her shoulders.

But they can also look to young star Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, 21, whose pace and dribbling could be perfect for Vietnam’s likely counter-attacking strategy.

Match 1 vs USA - July 22

Vietnam kick off their tournament against the most successful nation in the history of women’s football. The four-time winners and current holders of the trophy will relish the opportunity to start their tournament with a confident, attacking display against Vietnam.

Many will recall the 13-0 drubbing the U.S. handed to Thailand at the 2019 tournament with Alex Morgan scoring five goals.

Megan Rapinoe (L) and Alex Morgan of the United States celebrate winning the SheBelieves Cup at Exploria Stadium on February 24, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were named in the United States squad for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on June 21, 2023. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images via AFP

This time the veteran striker will line up alongside other experienced players such as Julie Etrz, who makes her return to the field after having a baby.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski will likely call upon an exciting blend of young players such as Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith to help unlock Vietnam’s defense and get past Tran Thi Kim Thanh between the posts.

Vietnam will receive $1.5-1.87 million for playing in the group stage of the tournament, but the players will also be delighted and thrilled by the opportunity to compete against the world’s best, and this American side represents the pinnacle of the sport.

Match 2 vs Portugal - July 27

Vietnam’s second match in Group E will be against fellow World Cup debutants Portugal. You can expect the Asian side to be more attacking in their second match, which offers a more realistic chance of gaining anything than the other two fixtures in the group.

Portugal women's football team. Photo by Reuters

Portugal reached the tournament in dramatic fashion after defeating Cameroon 2-1 in the Inter-Confederation play-off final, thanks to a 94th minute penalty converted by Carole Costa.

The European outfit are currently ranked 21st in the work, 11 spots above Vietnam.

They have already faced Asian competition this year in a friendly against Japan that they lost 2-1.

The Portuguese squad is full of experienced players, many of whom play regularly in the Portuguese top tier, one league above Lank Vilaverdense for which Nhu plays.

The likes of Dolores Silva of Braga in midfield will attempt to offer stability and composure on the ball. The Portuguese will undoubtedly consider the matchup against Vietnam as crucial for any hopes they may harbor of reaching the knockout stages.

Match 3 vs Netherlands - August 1

Vietnam’s final group match will be against the 2019 runners-up and 8th ranked team, the Netherlands.

The Dutch have struggled to recapture the form that helped them reach the final in France four years ago following the departure of coach Sarina Wiegman.

The Dutch celebrate their 2-0 victory against Italy at the 2019 Women's World Cup. Photo by Reuters

They also disappointed at the European Championships last year, where they only reached the quarterfinals despite being one of the favorites for the title.

This year’s tournament will be even more difficult due to the absence of one of the world’s best players, Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal, who is still recovering from an ACL injury.

Vietnam’s experienced defenders Tran Thi Thu Thao & Churong Thi Kieu will likely have a busy time as they try to contain the Netherlands’ firepower at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.