OFFICIAL: Vietnam team to participate in a 'mini' Futsal World Cup

The Vietnamese national futsal team is set to compete in the 2026 Futsal Continental Championship, which is likened to a scaled-down World Cup.

The 2026 Futsal Continental Championship promises to be one of the highest quality international friendly tournaments in the region, bringing together six strong teams from four continents, taking place from August 1 to 6, 2026 at the Nonthaburi Provincial Gymnasium (Thailand).

The participating teams include hosts Thailand, Russia, Afghanistan, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Zambia. Among them, Thailand is currently ranked 11th in the world and is the defending champion for two consecutive seasons (2024 and 2025). Russia is the highest-ranked team in the tournament (7th in the world), having been runners-up in the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup and is considered a top contender for this year's title.

The Vietnamese futsal team is currently ranked 22nd in the world, continuing to participate in this high-quality arena in preparation for important upcoming international goals. Additionally, Afghanistan (ranked 21st) is emerging as a new force in Asian futsal, while New Zealand (48th) is a notable representative from Oceania. Zambia (86th) will bring a fresh perspective from African futsal.

Over the five previous editions, the tournament has seen different champions: Iran (2021), Morocco (2022), Czech Republic (2023), Thailand (2024), and Thailand (2025). With home advantage, Thailand aims to win a third consecutive title. Meanwhile, the presence of Russia and many other quality teams promises exciting matches and will help all sides prepare best for future major tournaments.

The most recent tournament for the Vietnamese futsal team was the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship in April. The Vietnamese futsal team won a Bronze medal at that tournament. In the context of a squad undergoing a transition with many young players, this achievement is considered a positive result, reflecting the effort and development potential of coach Diego Giustozzi's team in the coming period.