Vietnam National Team Midfielder Speaks on the Importance of the Asian Cup Finals

Thai Thi Thao: “The Asian Cup Finals demand very high physical fitness, and the whole team is preparing seriously”

On the afternoon of January 20th, the Vietnam women's national team continued their training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, as part of their preparation camp for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup Finals. This marks the team's second week of training since regrouping.

With favorable weather conditions in Hanoi, the coaching staff is focusing on improving the players’ physical foundation, combined with technical and tactical drills to maintain ball control and team cohesion. Training content is conducted at an appropriate intensity to meet the demands of the highly competitive upcoming tournament.

Before training, midfielder Thai Thi Thao shared: “The Asian Cup Finals require very high endurance, and the entire team is preparing earnestly. The physical targets set by the coaching staff are being met well by everyone, and we continue striving to improve further. The current weather is also quite favorable, helping players maintain a steady training rhythm.”

Thai Thi Thao highlighted that the upcoming tournament features 12 top teams from the region, with Vietnam’s group including very strong opponents, especially Japan — one of Asia’s and the world’s leading teams. The other two teams are also considered to have made significant progress, requiring the whole team to prepare thoroughly both physically and technically.

During this training session, young midfielder Tran Nhat Lan also shared her thoughts on the past week’s training: “Currently, the coaching staff focuses heavily on physical conditioning exercises while also helping players regain their ball feel after competing in domestic leagues.”

This is the fourth time the midfielder born in 2004 has been called up to the national women's team. “Compared to previous camps, I feel more confident now. I am trying my best in training to compete for a spot and hope to be included in the official squad for upcoming tournaments,” Nhat Lan expressed.

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