The draw for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 has set up a heated regional rivalry, as Vietnam are placed in Group B alongside arch-rivals Thailand, as well as Kuwait and Lebanon. The much-anticipated Southeast Asian showdown promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament’s opening round.
The official draw, held on November 5 at the MNC Conference Hall in Jakarta, divided 16 participating nations into four groups. Host nation Indonesia headline Group A, joined by Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea. Japan, four-time champions, will face Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Australia in Group C, while defending champions Iran lead Group D, which also includes Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia.
The tournament will follow a round-robin group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. Matches will take place across two venues — the Indonesia Arena and Jakarta International Velodrome — from January 27 to February 7, 2026.
Vietnam vs Thailand – The Key Battle in Group B
Vietnam, currently ranked 26th in the world, will look to challenge world No. 11 Thailand, who finished as runners-up in the previous edition. The two nations share one of Asia’s fiercest futsal rivalries, and their meeting in Jakarta could determine the fate of Group B.
While Thailand are favorites to top the group, Vietnam’s recent form suggests they could make a strong case for a knockout-stage berth. Under the leadership of head coach Diego Giustozzi, Vietnam have defeated both of their remaining group opponents in recent encounters — beating Lebanon (World No. 54) 4-0 in the September qualifiers and defeating Kuwait (World No. 43) 3-2 and 3-1 in friendly matches.
The team’s solid defensive organization and counter-attacking pace could pose a serious threat to Thailand’s technical play.
Preparation and Ambitions
Ahead of the Asian Cup, Vietnam will participate in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this December — a perfect warm-up opportunity before heading to Jakarta. Coach Giustozzi has called up 20 of the nation’s top players for intensive training and is planning at least one friendly match against a top Asian team.
Vietnam are set to make their sixth consecutive and seventh overall appearance in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup. Their best result came in 2016, when a historic top-four finish earned them a first-ever ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
With strong preparation, momentum, and growing experience, Vietnam aim to write another memorable chapter in their futsal journey at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026.
