The Vietnam national futsal team (Vietnamese: Đội tuyển bóng đá trong nhà quốc gia Việt Nam) represents Vietnam in international futsal and is governed by Vietnam Football Federation.[2] They played two World Cup editions in 2016 and 2021 and reached the knockouts both times.
History
Beginning
In 1950, the South Vietnam futsal team was established, the predecessor of the current Vietnam national futsal team, but could not go abroad to play due to political problems.
After being inactive for eight years, the national team was reformed and joined 2005 AFF Futsal Championship and 2005 AFC Futsal Championship, of which Vietnam was host.[6] The team finished 5/6 teams in AFF Futsal Championship 2005[7] and the bottom of 2005 AFC Championship.[8] Vietnam failed to qualify for the AFC Championship in 2006 and 2007. The team also failed to reach the far from group-stage of the AFF tournament.
2009–2013: Regeneration
After these results in international competitions, the team decided to hire foreign futsal head coach. In 2008, Pattaya Piamkum was the first foreign futsal head coach. Vietnam reached to the final of 2009 AFF Futsal Championship which Vietnam was host,[9] the team's first ever in AFF Futsal Championship.
2014–2016: Success in AFC tournaments and first FIFA Futsal World Cup
Vietnam (red) playing versus Uzbekistan a friendly tournament in Japan in 2016. The tournament was organized after Vietnam defeated Japan at 2016 AFC Futsal Championship.
In 2014, Gargelli stepped down as coach. Bruno García Formoso became the new coach of the team.[11] Vietnam qualified for 2014 AFC Futsal Championship, the third AFC competition, as host. In this tournament, Vietnam reached the quarter-final for the first time.[12]
Vietnam also qualified for 2016 AFC Futsal Championship. The team got a shocking win over Japan in the quarter-final and reached the semi-final for the first time. This result also qualified Vietnam for 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Colombia, their first FIFA tournament.[13] The team also reached the knock-out stage after beating Guatemala 4–2,[14] losing to Paraguay 1–7 and Italy 0–2. In the round of 16, they lost to Russia 0–7.[15][16] The team also got FIFA Fair-play award from this tournament,[17] first FIFA award of Vietnam Football.
In the World Cup, Vietnam was drawn in group D along with Brazil, Czech Republic and Panama. After being thrashed by Brazil 1–9 in the opening match, Vietnam secured a needed victory against Panama with the total score of 3–2 and drew the Czech Republic 1–1, putting them in the top 4 third-placed teams and qualifying them for the round of 16 for the second time in a row. There, they met Russia, the team that they had lost against 0-7 five years ago. Vietnam narrowly lost to Russia 2–3 and end their campaign in the round of 16 in high spirits.
The record of Vietnam against other countries since the first official international match against Italy on 5 December 1997. Only official games were regarded.
