The Vietnam national football team, representing a unified Vietnam since 1975, participated in the ASEAN Championship for the first time in 1996 AFF Championship, the first edition of the tournament held in Singapore. Since then, Vietnam has become one of the most successful and consistent teams in Southeast Asia's biggest football tournament.
Vietnam's national team has been coached by several foreign managers, including Karl-Heinz Weigang, Henrique Calisto, Park Hang-seo, and Kim Sang-sik. The team, nicknamed the "Golden Star Warriors", has won the AFF Championship four times, in 2008, 2018, 2024 and 2026, and has reached the semi-finals or final in most other editions of the tournament. History In the inaugural tournament in 1996, Vietnam surprisingly won the bronze medal after defeating Indonesia. However, the most memorable moment during this period was the 1998 tournament held on home soil. Under the guidance of coach Alfred Riedl, the first "Golden Generation," featuring players like Nguyễn Hồng Sơn and Lê Huỳnh Đức, defeated Thailand 3-0 in the semi-finals. Despite this, Vietnam suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat to Singapore in the final due to a goal by Sasi Kumar's shoulder, missing out on their first championship title. In the 2000, 2002, and 2004 tournaments, the team maintained consistent performance but often stopped at the semi-finals or group stage.
2008 marked a historic milestone when Vietnam won the Southeast Asian Championship for the first time. After a difficult start in the group stage, coach Henrique Calisto's team played brilliantly, overcoming Singapore in the semi-finals before defeating Thailand with a 3-2 aggregate score over two legs in the final. Lê Công Vinh's header in the final minute of injury time at Mỹ Đình National Stadium became a classic moment in Vietnamese football. However, for almost a decade afterward (2010–2016), the team fell into a crisis and repeatedly lost in the semi-finals against Malaysia and Indonesia.
The arrival of South Korean manager Park Hang-seo at the end of 2017 completely changed the team's standing. At the 2018 AFF Championship, Vietnam demonstrated absolute dominance with a pragmatic and disciplined playing style. The team won their second championship after defeating Malaysia in the second leg of the final in Hanoi thanks to a single goal from Nguyễn Anh Đức. This was the tournament where Vietnam set a record for the longest clean sheet and affirmed their number one position in the region on the FIFA rankings.
At the 2020 tournament (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia), Vietnam officially lost to Thailand in the semi-finals with a total score of 0–2. In 2022 – the final tournament under coach Park Hang-seo – the team reached the final but once again suffered a defeat against Thailand with a total score of 2–3, finishing as runners-up. After a turbulent transition period under coach Philippe Troussier, Vietnamese football entered a new era under the leadership of strategist Kim Sang-sik.
The turning point occurred at the 2024 ASEAN Championship. After overcoming their long-standing rivals in the semi-finals, Vietnam advanced to the final and defeated Thailand to win their third Southeast Asian championship title. In the 2026 edition, Vietnam had produced a dominant performance throughout the tournament, and once again overcame Thailand in the final 4–2 on aggregate to win their fourth title, which marked the first time that the team had won consecutive titles.
Overview Record by season Coach(es)YearResult — 1996Third place 3rd 6 3 2 1 14 10 Karl-Heinz Weigang 1998Runners-up 2/8 5 3 1 1 8 2 Alfred Riedl 2000Fourth place4th 6 3 1 2 14 6 Alfred Riedl 2002Third place 3rd 6 4 1 1 21 12 Henrique Calisto 2004 Group stage 6th 4 2 1 1 13 5 Edson Tavares, Trần Văn Khánh 2007Semi-finals 3rd 5 1 3 1 10 3 Alfred Riedl 2008Champions 1/8 7 4 2 1 11 6 Henrique Calisto 2010Semi-finals 3rd 5 2 1 2 8 5 Henrique Calisto 2012Group stage 6th 3 0 1 2 2 5 Phan Thanh Hùng 2014Semi-finals 3/8 5 3 1 1 12 8 Toshiya Miura 2016Semi-finals 3rd 5 3 1 1 8 6 Nguyễn Hữu Thắng 2018Champions 1/10 8 6 2 0 15 4 Park Hang-seo 2020Semi-finals 3/10 6 3 2 1 9 2 Park Hang-seo 2022Runners-up2nd8431163 Park Hang-seo 2024Champions 1st8710216 Kim Sang-sik 2026Champions 1st8620215 Kim Sang-sikTotal4 titles16/169554251620387—
Team records Vietnam's ASEAN Championship recordFirst match 3–1 (2 September 1996; Jurong, Singapore)Biggest win 9–0 (17 January 2007; Jalan Besar, Singapore)Biggest defeat 0–4 (27 December 2002; Jakarta, Indonesia)Best result Champions in 2008, 2018, 2024 and 2026Worst result 6th in 2004 and 2012 (group stage)
Season game log
Outstanding season Vietnam had three outstanding seasons in 2008, 2018, and 2024, winning the championship in all three. 2008 AFF Championship
In 2008 AFF Championship, Vietnam was placed in Group B alongside with Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos. The team entered the tournament under immense pressure after a streak of 11 consecutive matches without a win under coach Henrique Calisto. In their opening match in Phuket, Vietnam lost 0–2 to hosts Thailand, raising concerns about their chances of advancing. However, in the second match, Vietnam secured a dramatic 3–2 victory against Malaysia thanks to a decisive goal from nearly 40 meters by Nguyen Vu Phong and a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper. A resounding 4–0 win against Laos in the final match secured Vietnam's place in the semi-finals as the second-placed team in Group B.
Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals was the defending champion Singapore, a team highly regarded for its disciplined style of play and a squad of naturalized players. In the first leg at My Dinh National Stadium, the two teams drew 0–0 in a closely contested match. The second leg at Kallang Stadium saw the resilience of the Vietnamese defense against the relentless pressure from the home team. In the 74th minute, following a sharp counter-attack, Le Cong Vinh sprinted down the left wing before delivering a perfect cross for Nguyen Quang Hai to score the only goal of the match. Winning 1–0 on aggregate after two legs, Vietnam reached the final for the first time in 10 years.
Vietnam and Thailand faced each other again in a historic final. In the first leg at Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam caused a sensation by defeating the "War Elephants" 2-1 thanks to goals from Nguyen Vu Phong and Le Cong Vinh in the first half. This was Vietnam's first victory against Thailand on their home ground in an official tournament.
The second leg match, played on the evening of December 28, 2008, at My Dinh Stadium, became one of the most memorable moments in Vietnamese football history. Thailand took the lead thanks to a goal by Teerasil Dangda in the 21st minute, bringing the aggregate score back to a tie. As the match entered its final seconds of injury time and spectators were thinking about extra time, from a free kick taken by Nguyen Minh Phuong, Le Cong Vinh executed a spectacular backward header that beat goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool. This goal secured a 1-1 draw in the second leg and a 3-2 aggregate victory, giving Vietnam its first-ever Southeast Asian championship title and creating a nationwide sensation and celebrations. Roster Head Coach: Henrique Calisto
Group stage
Knockout stage Semi-finals
Final
2018 AFF Championship
Vietnam was placed in Group A along with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The team started well with a 3–0 victory over Laos away from home, followed by a 2–0 win against direct rival Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium. After a disappointing goalless draw against Myanmar, Vietnam finished the group stage with a dominant 3–0 victory over Cambodia. At the end of this phase, Vietnam topped Group A with 10 points, scoring 8 goals and, remarkably, conceding none, setting a record for defensive performance in the group stage.
Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals was the Philippines, led by manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. In the first leg in Bacolod, Vietnam gained a significant advantage with a 2–1 victory thanks to goals from Anh Duc and Phan Van Duc. Returning to their home ground, My Dinh Stadium, for the second leg, the team maintained their dominance and secured a 2–1 victory in the final minutes thanks to goals from Quang Hai and Cong Phuong. Winning 4–2 on aggregate after two legs, Vietnam officially advanced to the final, their first in 10 years since 2008.
In the final, Vietnam faced Malaysia again. The first leg at Bukit Jalil Stadium was dramatic; Vietnam took an early two-goal lead thanks to goals from Huy Hung and Duc Huy, but allowed their opponents to equalize 2–2 in the second half. The decisive second leg took place on December 15, 2018, at Mỹ Đình National Stadium. In the 6th minute, Nguyen Anh Duc scored the only goal after a pass from Quang Hai, giving Vietnam a 1–0 victory (3–2 on aggregate) and securing their second championship title after a 10-year wait. Roster Head coach: Park Hang-seo
The final roster was announced on 3 November 2018.
Group stage
Knockout stage Semi-finals
Final
2024 ASEAN Championship
Vietnam were seeded in Group B alongside Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. The team had endured heavy criticism before the competition as a result of the previous failures during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, they started off strong with a 4–1 away victory over Laos. This was followed by a narrow 1–0 victory against Indonesia at Việt Trì Stadium. After managing to avoid a defeat against the Philippines with a last-minute equalizer from Doãn Ngọc Tân to end the away match at 1–1, Vietnam achieved a dominant 5–0 home win against Myanmar, a match marked with the debut of naturalized player Rafaelson, who scored twice and provided two assists. With three victories and one draw, the team finished top of Group B.
Vietnam encountered Singapore in the semi-finals. Following a goalless first half, Vietnam scored twice with a last-minute penalty from Nguyễn Tiến Linh followed by the second goal from Rafaelson three minutes later to end the first leg, an away fixture, with a 2–0 win for Vietnam. In the return leg at home on 29 December, both players scored again, with Rafaelson scoring a brace to secure a comfortable 3–1 victory for the Golden Star Warriors. With a 5–1 aggregate victory, Vietnam had advanced to the final, marking the first time that Vietnam had qualified for two successive ASEAN Championship finals.
The final was contested between Vietnam and defending champions Thailand, marking the second time in a row that both teams had met in an ASEAN Championship final. Vietnam hosted the first leg of the final on 2 January 2025 at Việt Trì Stadium. In the second half, Rafaelson scored twice, while Thailand had also scored a consolation goal to end the home fixture in a narrow 2–1 victory, Vietnam's first home victory over Thailand since 1998. Three days later, Vietnam traveled to Rajamangala Stadium for the second leg. Phạm Tuấn Hải scored the opening goal for the team eight minutes into the match. However, Thailand regained the initiative after an Ben Davis equalizer, followed by Rafaelson's heavy injury a few minutes later which made him absent from the national team until November 2025. In the second half, Vietnam conceded a controversial long-range goal from Supachok Sarachat. The match turned tides again shortly after, as Weerathep Pomphan was sent off, giving the visitors a numerical advantage. The team utilized this opportunity and equalized with an own goal by Pansa Hemviboon. At injury time, a quick counter-attack from Vietnam culminated in Nguyễn Hai Long shooting the ball into the empty net and scoring the winner, as they emerged victorious with an 3–2 victory and triumphed 5–3 on aggregate, earning their third ASEAN Championship title after six years of await. Roster