The 2026 World Cup journey of coach Philippe Troussier and his team will begin in the second qualifying round, with the opening match taking place at Rizal Memorial Stadium (Manila, Philippines). In Group F with 3 opponents Iraq, Indonesia and the Philippines, the Vietnamese team will play a total of 6 matches from now until June 2024.
This season, the Asian region currently has 8.5 slots, an increase of 4 slots compared to last year, meaning that the opportunities for the Vietnamese team will be more open.
Vietnam team is ready
On November 13, the Vietnamese team departed from Hanoi to the Philippines to prepare for the first match in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup. "Ready" was the word that coach Philippe Troussier mentioned many times during his "fire-up" session with his players before this important journey.
The second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup begins in November (Photo: Masashi Hara/Getty).
It has been 8 months since the French strategist was appointed to the hot seat of the Vietnam national team. The coach born in 1955 and his colleagues have made efforts to get to know and talk to better understand the players; experiment and convey to the team his philosophies, tactics and wishes.
To achieve the best results, Coach Troussier has considered a squad that combines youth and experienced players. Specifically, stars Van Lam, Que Ngoc Hai, Hung Dung, Tuan Hai... who helped Vietnam reach the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup will compete with new hopes such as Tuan Tai, Van Khang, Thai Son and Thanh Nhan.
Pham Tuan Hai (in white shirt) is one of the expected stars of the Vietnam team (Photo: VCG/Getty).
Imbued with the football philosophy of coach Philippe Troussier, the 23 elite warriors promise to form a united, strong team, helping the team achieve its goals. All are ready to contribute to the national team.
Expecting a smooth start and a smooth ending in the opening match
In the opening match on the evening of November 16, the Vietnamese team will face a familiar opponent in the region, the Philippines. Compared to the other 3 names in Group F, the Philippines team is considered weaker. However, "The Azkals" cannot be underestimated because coach Michael Weiss has many young talents in his hands.
Philippines (white shirt) is highly appreciated for its solid defense (Photo: JAM STA ROSA/Getty).
The Philippines team list includes 6 players currently playing domestically and 20 players currently playing abroad. Among them are veteran goalkeeper Neil Etheridge (Birmingham City, England), Tabinas Jefferson (Mito HollyHock, Japan) and defender Santiago Rublico (Atletico Madrid, Spain).
Under the leadership of coach Michael Weiss, the Philippines team's playing style is considered concise and methodical with a solid defense and easy transition into attack.
To quickly adapt to the new environment, Coach Troussier asked his players to practice physical training after settling down in Manila. The "Golden Star Warriors" also had 3 practice sessions on the official Rizal Memorial stadium.
This helps the 2018 AFF Cup champion get used to artificial turf, which is not his forte, and also helps the French coach easily implement his training plan before the match.
Vietnam team practices hard before the competition (Photo: VFF).
Having defeated the Philippines in the last 4 matches and being 40 places higher than their opponents in the FIFA rankings, the Vietnam team, despite having the upper hand, still needs to focus on a journey that will be "smooth from start to finish". As long as the players play to their full potential and make good use of the opportunities created, 3 points are within reach.
With the support of Casper Vietnam, the match between the Philippines and Vietnam will be broadcast live by FPT Play at 6:00 p.m. on November 16. The match will be broadcast live on FPT Play website platforms, FPT Play application for Smart TV, Smart Phone, PC/Laptop, FPT Play Box and FPT Play's digital channel system.
In addition, the match will also be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV). FPT Play is also the broadcaster for the 3 home matches of the Vietnam National Team in the 2nd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.
The company's TV products are in the "Top 5 TV consumption in Vietnam". With top-selling products on the market such as EcoCity air conditioners, EcoWash washing machines and EcoFresh multi-door refrigerators... Casper is highly appreciated by customers for its sophisticated design, optimal functionality and energy saving.
In more than 7 years of presence in the market, Casper Vietnam said that the unit has consistently followed the motto "Customer-centric" with the QSP strategy (Quality - Service - Price: Top quality - Outstanding service - Reasonable price).
Specifically, the quality has been guaranteed by prestigious certifications, the service system covers 63/63 provinces and cities with 181 warranty centers, and the selling price policy is suitable for Vietnamese consumers.
In addition, Casper Vietnam is also known as a brand that puts people at the center with many social and volunteer activities for the community. Especially, it supports national sports activities, inspiring the spirit of reaching high and a healthy lifestyle for the young generation - the future owners of the country.
Source
Comment (0)