Hot football news afternoon 13/7: Vietnam national team wins all 3 matches in South Korea

The Vietnam national team ended its training trip with a remarkable win against Gangwon FC, the VFF commented on World Cup opportunities, Mbappe received accolades from Eto'o, and the 2026 World Cup semi-finals intensify alongside a flurry of transfer updates.

Vietnam national team creates momentum ahead of ASEAN Championship 2026

The Vietnam national team concluded its training camp in South Korea with an impressive 2-1 victory over Gangwon FC, a club currently competing in K-League 1. Despite trailing from a penalty following a mistake by Xuan Manh, Coach Kim Sang-sik's side quickly regained control with an equalizer from Xuan Son before Gia Hung secured the win from an assist by Dinh Bac in the second half.

Against the strongest opponent among the three friendly matches, the performance of the Vietnam team offered many positive signs regarding gameplay, squad depth, and the adaptability of young talents, providing an important stepping stone before defending the Southeast Asian title.

VFF speaks out about Vietnam national team's World Cup chances

The proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is seen as a positive signal for Vietnamese football. However, VFF leaders believe that the opportunity will only become a reality if the team prepares systematically.

VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu emphasized that expanding slots will give Asian teams more hope, but the decisive factor remains internal strength and long-term development strategy. According to him, recent achievements such as the women's team qualifying for the World Cup, the men's team winning the AFF Cup, and the U17 team securing a World Cup spot are important foundations. However, to conquer the world's biggest stage, Vietnamese football needs continued investment in youth training, the V-League, and improving the national team's quality.

Eto'o praises Mbappe highly

Legend Samuel Eto'o has lavished praise on Kylian Mbappe following his explosive performance at the 2026 World Cup. With 8 goals in 6 matches, the French captain leads the Golden Boot race and has become the biggest hope for Les Bleus in their quest for the championship.

Eto'o called Mbappe a phenomenon, while also praising the composure, leadership qualities, and incredible consistency of the 27-year-old striker over nearly a decade. According to the former Cameroon star, Mbappe not only elevates the World Cup's appeal but also deserves to be considered one of the greatest players in history if he maintains his current form.

Argentina goes it alone in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals

The 2026 World Cup has witnessed European dominance, with France, Spain, and England all reaching the semi-finals, while Argentina is the only non-European contender still in the title race. France continues to shine with Mbappe leading the scoring charts, Spain impresses with their modern possession-based play, and England shows resilience thanks to Jude Bellingham's brilliance. On the other side, Argentina still holds hopes of defending their crown under Lionel Messi's guidance.

The two semi-final matchups—France vs. Spain and England vs. Argentina—promise to deliver high-level clashes, determining whether the 2026 World Cup will see an all-European final or whether Argentina will break the continent's dominance.

Rashford set to decide his future

Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United is entering a decisive phase. The English striker is expected to have a direct meeting with Michael Carrick after the 2026 World Cup to make his final choice.

According to Fabrizio Romano, this discussion could determine whether Rashford remains at Old Trafford or leaves the club after many years of service. Although he has confirmed he will return for pre-season training, multiple sources indicate that both MU and Rashford lean toward a separation in the summer transfer window. If no common ground is found after the meeting, the likelihood of the 28-year-old forward leaving Old Trafford becomes clearer than ever.

Domestic and international football news highlights

CAHN continues to assert their ambition for the 2026/27 season by signing striker David Henen, a player who has represented Belgium's youth teams, to strengthen their attack. Meanwhile, the proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams is seen as an opportunity for the Vietnam national team to get closer to the World Cup dream if they make good use of the youth development process and naturalization policies.

At the 2026 World Cup, France is reportedly said to have identified a weakness in Spain's pressing system ahead of the semi-final, while coach Thomas Tuchel faces a psychological challenge with Jude Bellingham before the big clash against Argentina.

In the transfer market, Manchester United is set to earn over 10 million Pounds from the Mason Greenwood deal, Arsenal is closing in on Bruno Guimaraes, Aston Villa has overtaken Newcastle in the Johan Manzambi race, and Galatasaray is about to acquire Lesley Ugochukwu.