Vietnam's national team might play a friendly match against the FIFA-ranked 93rd team

The Chinese Football Association is reportedly considering inviting Vietnam's national team for a friendly match against their national squad in November.

According to a source from Sohu Sports, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) is compiling a list of potential opponents for the upcoming FIFA international window in November.

The two most frequently mentioned teams are Japan and South Korea. However, if agreements cannot be reached with these two powerhouses, CFA might consider Vietnam’s national team for a friendly match due to the convenience of travel between the neighboring countries and the long-standing cooperative relationship between their football associations.

Additionally, another factor that CFA values is the significant progress the Vietnamese squad under coach Kim Sang Sik has demonstrated over the past year.

Moreover, Vietnam is seen as a suitably matched opponent for China. In their most recent encounter on October 10, 2023, China’s national team secured a 2-0 victory over Vietnam under coach Philippe Troussier.

Vietnam has only managed to win once against the Chinese team after a streak of seven consecutive losses, which was in early 2022 when Kim Sang Sik’s squad triumphed 3-0 during the third round of the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Currently, China, ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings, remains without an official head coach following the departure of Branko Ivankovic due to disappointing results in the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. The CFA is reportedly considering appointing a European coach, and a victory in his debut match would be a fantastic welcome for Chinese football fans.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is focusing on the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. After four matches in Group F, Kim Sang Sik’s team has achieved three wins but suffered a defeat to Malaysia, the group leader who holds the decisive advantage for qualifying to Asia’s premier tournament.

Therefore, the upcoming match against China is regarded as a tough test for Vietnam to assess their strength while preparing for future objectives.

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