The Vietnam women’s futsal team advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2025 as Group B winners, following a goalless draw against defending champions Iran.

The match, held on May 11, was a tactical stalemate, with both Vietnam (ranked 11th in the world) and Iran (ranked 9th) opting not to deploy their strongest lineups. Head coaches Nguyen Dinh Hoang of Vietnam and Foruzan Solymani of Iran used the match to rotate their squads, giving playing time to younger or less experienced players such as Hai Yen, Van Anh, Lan Mai, Nguyet Vi, and K’Thua.

The first half was largely uneventful, with both teams showing little urgency and few scoring opportunities. The second half offered a slight improvement as Vietnam attempted to press forward, creating several chances, though none were converted into goals. Iran, meanwhile, remained cautious and focused on defense.

With this result, Vietnam topped Group B with 7 points and will face the second-placed team in Group C in the quarterfinals. Their opponent will be determined after the match between Japan and Thailand later this evening.

The goalless draw was interpreted by many observers as a calculated move by both teams to avoid tougher opponents in the next round. Despite being the reigning champions, Iran appeared content to finish second in the group.

Vietnam’s performance has been consistent throughout the group stage, combining tactical discipline with growing confidence. The upcoming quarterfinal will be a major test, potentially against regional powerhouses like Japan, Thailand, or Indonesia.

Thien Binh