Vietnamese Football: The Untold Silences on the Journey to the Next Level

Minute 88. The missed penalty by the Vietnamese women's national team forward against Thailand at the 2026 AFF Cup was not just a missed shot. It was a moment that a generation of players had waited 15 years to stand on a big stage. When the ball flew over the crossbar, I saw not just disappointment in the stands – they saw the truth about a football nation struggling between professional dreams and harsh reality. Context: While Vietnamese men's football has enjoyed success with the 2026 AFF Cup title, 2026 SEA Games gold, and reaching the final round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, women's football has quietly advanced with little attention. The women's team qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time, but the journey was filled with stories of sacrifice: low salaries, poor facilities, and media neglect. Meanwhile, men's clubs are engaged in a transfer arms race with multi-million dollar contracts, while women's clubs struggle to find sponsors. The V.League summer 2026 transfer window saw a race among giants like Cong An Ha Noi, Ha Noi FC, and Nam Dinh, but few know that these 'blockbuster' deals often come with inflated player prices, while smaller clubs like Hong Linh Ha Tinh or Quang Nam pick up the leftovers. Core: Look at the tactical detail of the women's team under coach Mai Duc Chung. The 4-4-2 formation with two target forwards is not just a defensive choice – it results from a lack of creative midfielders. With only three players who have trained in Europe (Huynh Nhu, Chuong Thi Kieu, and Hai Yen), every attack revolves around their ability to finish chances. However, the bright spot is an increasingly cohesive team: the women's passing accuracy reached 78% at the 2026 World Cup (5% higher than in Asian qualifiers), thanks to short pressing drills designed by German fitness coach Cedric Kahn. But this still lags behind Japan (87%) and the Netherlands (91%). This shows the gap is not just technical but also physical and psychological. Contrarian view: Many say women's football lacks commercial value. Wrong. In the V.League women's division, average attendance for the Hanoi vs. Ho Chi Minh City derby jumped 40% after the World Cup, bringing sponsorship from beverage and fashion brands. But the real value is not money – it's that women's football proves pure tactics and emotion can compete with flashy commercial power. On the flip side, men's clubs receive VND 15 billion/month in sponsorship but sink into debt, illustrating a more sustainable business model in women's clubs – lower operating costs and more loyal fans. Open-ended conclusion: I don't know when Vietnamese women's football will have a truly professional league, or when a female player can live on her football salary. But I know every missed penalty is a lesson, every player going abroad is a brick. If 20 years ago she played on clay, 10 years from now she will play on natural grass with 20,000 spectators. The change is happening – but the question is: do we have the patience to wait? When the old wave recedes, I step onto a new platform – my voice remains mine. On the day of men's football celebration, I silently embed women's records into each broadcast. When the pandemic silenced, the dressing room spoke – I am just the microphone. The voice of the dressing room. Over thirty years holding a mic, I've learned this: sport is not just about the score. Transfer rumors buzz all season, but what lingers are the lives behind the contracts. Esports were born half a century after me, yet they taught me how to start over. At 56, I still ask one question: where are women scoring in this game? Based on my match-watching experience, I find that the women's team's use of the 4-4-2 formation is not just tactical but reflects limited human resources. Interestingly, central midfielder Bich Thuy had 112 touches in the match against the USA, the highest among Southeast Asian players at the World Cup. This shows fighting spirit is not limited by physique. Let me be direct: what I see on the pitch does not lie. Vietnamese female players are demanding more than what they are given. In the context of the V.League men's transfer market witnessing a price fever for players like Nguyen Van Toan (transfer value VND 30 billion according to Transfermarkt), while the highest signing bonus for a female player is only VND 500 million. This gap is not just an economic story – it is evidence of systemic inequality. But I believe this is an opportunity: as investment funds begin targeting women's football as a new growth channel, the market will self-correct. Look at the English women's professional league – revenue grew 200% in 5 years thanks to media and sponsorship. Vietnam is at the starting point, but the trend is clear. Finally, I want to acknowledge the role of coach Mai Duc Chung – a man who has been with women's football for 20 years, yet at 73 still has no long-term contract. He embodies the silent workers of football. When we ask who is scoring, don't forget those who created the goal. The change is happening, but only when we stop and listen.