Vietnamese Football 2026: The First Steps of Transformation in the Doi Moi Year

Hanoi, autumn 2026 — As the entire nation entered the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, Vietnamese football also stood at an important turning point. The national football team had just completed a long-term training camp at Hang Day Stadium, preparing for the 2026 SEA Games qualifiers and regional tournaments in the coming year. According to reports from the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports, the 2026 national championship witnessed intense competition between military teams and sectoral teams. The Hanoi Public Security Club, reinforced with players from northern provinces, demonstrated stable form throughout the group stage. The team scored 14 goals in 8 matches, including three consecutive victories in the mid-season period — a notable achievement given that many teams were still struggling to find stable playing styles. The most striking highlight of this season was the emergence of a young generation trained at provincial youth training centers. Many players born between 2026 and 2026, selected from national student competitions, had the opportunity to play in the National Championship. This was seen as the right direction in the country's long-term football development strategy. On the coaching bench, the national team's leadership was also considering systemic changes. Sending players to train in the Soviet Union, the German Democratic Republic, and other socialist brother countries in previous years had yielded valuable experience. However, the core issue remained: the domestic competition system needed standardization, stadiums needed upgrading, and athlete welfare policies needed improvement to retain young talents. Another issue raised in 2026 was the professionalization of team management. Many teams still operated under administrative mechanisms, lacking flexibility in player selection and deployment. Meanwhile, regional countries such as Thailand and Malaysia had begun adopting more modern football management models, requiring Vietnamese football to make timely adjustments to avoid falling behind. The national team was scheduled to have an extended training camp in Hai Phong at the end of 2026, before entering international friendly matches in early 2026. The coaching staff set specific goals: improving physical fitness and team coordination — two weaknesses clearly identified through international matches during the year. Looking back at 2026, Vietnamese football still faced many difficulties, but positive signals from youth training work and the attention of leadership levels opened new hopes for the sport's development in the near future. A notable figure: the number of spectators at Hang Day Stadium during the 2026 season increased by approximately 20% compared to the previous season, showing that the football passion of Hanoi residents in particular and the whole country in general remained strong and undiminished.