Women’s National Team reaches first-ever World Cup
Taking on the World’s Most Powerful Team Today
Shops open at 8 a.m. for game time
and get ready to cheer with us
The 22nd is shaping up to be a monumental day in Vietnamese soccer history.
The Vietnamese women’s national soccer team will make its World Cup debut at 10 a.m. when it takes on world champion United States in a Group E match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. This is the first time Vietnam has ever competed at a World Cup for both the men’s and women’s national teams.
Despite the fact that their first opponent is the world’s No. 1 team, the United States, which has won two consecutive World Cups (2015 and 2019) and is a strong favorite to win the tournament, the Vietnamese are excited.
Vietnam, ranked 32nd in women’s soccer, defeated Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup playoffs in February to book its first-ever World Cup ticket. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh dubbed the team the “Diamond Girls” for their perseverance under pressure. The team is led by striker Huynh, 32, who is the only Vietnamese player to play in a foreign league (Portugal’s second division). “It’s a big challenge to play a strong team like the US, but it’s a chance to learn from them,” said captain Thi Thi Thuy Chanh (35). We will have a good strategy to face them with defense and counterattack.” The players are ready for the challenge.
Vietnam coach Mai Duc Trung, who celebrated his 72nd birthday last month, is on track to become the oldest coach in the history of the men’s and women’s World Cups. He will surpass the record set by Otto Rehagel, who coached the Greek men’s national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (71 years, 317 days).
Vietnam is also heating up. According to foreign media, sports pubs are opening their doors in the morning to accommodate fans who will be watching the game, which kicks off at 8 a.m. local time. Pubs, restaurants, and other establishments are expected to have staff wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the Vietnamese flag on game day.
The harsh reality of women’s soccer in Vietnam is also being highlighted. “Some professional teams in Vietnam pay players $200 to $300 a month (about 260,000 to 390,000 won),” according to Athletic, an American sports publication. As a result, there are some national team players who sell clothing and cosmetics online or open restaurants (on the side).”
According to sports oddsmaker Opta, the United States has an 86.7 percent chance of winning, while Vietnam has a 4.5 percent chance. Opta rates Vietnam’s chances of winning the tournament at 0.65%, 고스톱 the second-lowest among the 32 participating countries, behind Panama (0.36%).