Vietnamese national team defender determined to secure World Cup finals berth

Defender Thao Nguyen states her commitment to work hard alongside the Vietnam U20 women's squad to qualify for the U20 World Cup.

Following the Lunar New Year holiday, the Vietnam U20 women's national team has regrouped and promptly commenced training. According to Thao Nguyen, the team is progressively improving both physical fitness and tactical skills. Compared to the qualifiers, the coaching staff has made adjustments to the playing formation, so the players are actively adapting to grasp the technical requirements well.

Ahead of the tournament, Thao Nguyen notes that all opponents in the finals possess high skill levels and superior physical stature, particularly the strong teams from the continental region. Given their relatively modest physical build, the Vietnam U20 women's team prioritizes strengthening the defense, especially their ability to handle aerial balls. The 2006-born defender emphasizes that at the continental level, the team will have to defend more, making maintaining defensive shape and maximum concentration in set-piece situations crucial factors.

Experiencing her first youth continental tournament, Thao Nguyen cannot hide her joy and pride. She and her teammates are determined to fight match by match, aiming for a top 5 finish to secure a ticket to the U20 World Cup finals. Thao Nguyen herself is also striving to improve her physical fitness and strength to enhance her effectiveness in one-on-one duels.

According to the plan, the team will train in China from March 6th to 14th, then move to Ho Chi Minh City from March 15th to 28th to acclimatize to weather conditions similar to the tournament venue in Thailand. Here, the team is scheduled to play two friendly matches against the Uzbekistan U20 women's team on March 24th and 27th.

At the 2026 AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Finals, the Vietnam U20 women's team is in Group A alongside China, host Thailand, and Bangladesh. With thorough preparation and high determination, coach Okiyama Masahiko and his players aim to make a positive mark at the continental competition.