Vietnam achieve record year-end FIFA ranking

This is the first time Vietnam end the year at 93rd. The team broke their previous record last year when they peaked at 94th.

In the latest FIFA ranking update, Vietnam still have 1,258 points, unchanged since the start of 2020, while Madagascar, who previously peaked at 92nd with 1,264 points, shed seven points after losing to Burkina Faso in a friendly and drawing and losing against Ivory Coast in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam have played no international matches in 2020, with World Cup 2022 Asian qualifiers and AFF Cup moving their calendars to next year.

The best FIFA ranking Vietnam has ever achieved was in September 1998 when they peaked at 84th. However, they dropped to 98th in December that year.

Vietnam will enter 2021 in 14th position across Asia and first in Southeast Asia, followed by Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia.

The world’s top five teams remain the same, with Belgium first, followed by France, Brazil, England and Portugal.

In December, the national team will play two friendlies with the U22 team on the 23rd and 27th, as part of their long training period from December 6 to 28 in Hanoi.

In 2021, the Golden Dragons have two main goals. The first is advancing to the next round of World Cup Asian qualifiers. They will play Malaysia in March, then Indonesia and UAE in June. Their second goal is defending their AFF Cup title in December.