The Vietnam women's football team at Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s debut game at the global finals will be against reigning champions USA, with the Netherlands and Portugal making up their devilishly difficult group. The Vietnamese will approach the tournament with positive momentum, however.

They built on their Asian Cup success by winning the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) competition and recording a fourth-place finish at the AFF Women's Championship 2022. Moreover, Mai Duc Chung’s side will surely be galvanized by the prospect of representing their proud nation on the world stage for the first time, FIFA said.

The Vietnam coach boasts an extensive of history working with the women’s national team. Having first taken the reins in 1997, Chung has had several spells in charge, in between stints with Vietnamese club outfits and men’s national age-group teams. He has enjoyed significant success with the women’s national side, leading Vietnam to five gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games. His crowning achievement came when he oversaw Vietnam’s qualification for Australia and New Zealand 2023™, having shaped a team which mixes impressive technical quality with a ferocious collective work-ethic.

Key player Huynh Nhu became the first female Vietnamese player to join a professional European club when she signed for Portuguese outfit Lank Vilaverdense in August 2022. After a settling in period at her new club, the 31-year-old has now firmly established herself as a key player for Vilaverdense, regularly showcasing her dynamic range of attributes and contributing vital goals. A skilful, sharp and intelligent forward, Nhu’s clinical finishing ability has seen her become Vietnam’s record goal scorer. The undoubted standard-bearer for the national team, Nhu’s hard running and never-say-die attitude sets an example for her team-mates.

One to watch Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha as one of the most exciting young talents in Vietnamese football was enhanced by her eye-catching performances at the 2022 Asian Cup. The 21-year-old forward’s pace and dribbling ability helps Vietnam relieve pressure and advance into dangerous attacking areas. Nha, who is comfortable playing as a central forward or from wide areas, also boasts the ability to make defense splitting passes.