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The Golden Dragons claimed a thrilling aggregate win over Thailand in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final, with a 5-3 victory across the two legs. The first match, hosted in Vietnam’s Phu Tho Province, ended 2-1 to the home team. In the return game at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, Vietnam struck early. A swift counter-attack from a free kick in their own half saw Pham Tuan Hai break free and delicately chip the ball over the Thai goalkeeper to give Vietnam an eighth-minute lead. Pham Tuan Hai wheels away in celebration after scoring in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Championship final. His goal gave Vietnam an early lead over Thailand. Image credit: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Thailand responded with a quick break of their own in the 24th minute, but Nguyen Thanh Chung’s well-timed tackle halted Supachok Sarachat’s progress. However, just minutes later, Vietnam’s defense was breached. A long-range strike from Ben Davis beat the goalkeeper, leveling the score at 1-1. ...

Ho Chi Minh City police detained Le Sy Manh, a former Vietnamese international footballer, for assaulting a referee during an amateur tournament. The incident, which occurred on December 22, 2024, sparked outrage as a video of Manh’s violent reaction to receiving a red card went viral. Manh, a member of the Thanh Hoa City senior team, lashed out at referee Pham Van Nguyen after being shown a yellow card for a foul. He slapped the referee and was subsequently shown a red card, leading to an even more aggressive response. Manh kicked and punched Nguyen, with the entire incident being captured on camera and shared widely across social media platforms. Born in 1984 in Thanh Hoa Province, Manh represented Vietnam from 2009 to 2010. Throughout his club career, he played for prominent teams such as Hanoi T&T, Vissai Ninh Binh, FLC Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Xuan Thanh Sai Gon, and Hai Phong. The Ho Chi Minh City Police’s swift action in detaining Manh sends a strong message about their comm...

Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team has set their sights on the semifinals against Singapore. Vietnam has showcased their offensive prowess in the tournament so far, ranking second in the number of goals scored, just behind Thailand, who have dominated with 18 goals. The team’s striking prowess is evident with naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son, and teammates Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh, each finding the back of the net twice. Adding to the team’s firepower, Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Van Vi, Nguyen Hai Long, Bui Vi Hao, and Doan Ngoc Tan have all contributed with a goal each. What sets Vietnam apart is their solid defense, conceding only two goals in the group stage, the best defensive record thus far. The Philippines come in second, conceding three goals, followed by Thailand with four. The semifinal matches will see Vietnam traveling to Singapore for the first leg on December 26 at the Jalan Besar Stadium, and then returning home to host The Lions at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Th...

In 2014, the VFF and JFA embarked on a journey of mutual growth and cultural exchange by signing their first cooperation agreement. This decade-long partnership has yielded significant fruits, with the JFA providing invaluable support to its Vietnamese counterpart. One of the key strengths of this collaboration has been the introduction of seasoned experts. Notable figures include Miura Toshiya, who led the U23 and national teams with prowess; Tanabe Kazuyoshi, the executive director of the V.League, brought invaluable insights to the table. Yusuke Adachi and Takeshi Koshida, as technical directors, left a lasting impact on the VFF, and Ijiri Akira’s guidance of the U19 and U20 women’s teams was exceptional. The JFA has also facilitated numerous training and competition opportunities for Vietnamese teams in Japan, fostering growth and exposure. Additionally, their initiatives to develop grassroots football in Vietnam have sown the seeds for a brighter future. Building on this strong...

The highly anticipated ‘sports trial of the century’ in British media has commenced, with a three-person commission meticulously examining volumes of evidence over an estimated 10-week period. The verdict, expected before the end of the current season, will conclude a lengthy process that began with referrals in February 2023, involving charges dating back to 2009. At the center of this trial is the renowned football club, City, boasting a remarkable record of four consecutive English title wins. The club has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining their innocence throughout the process. However, the potential consequences are significant. If found guilty on any of the charges, City could face a range of penalties, including hefty fines, points deductions, or even demotion from the Premier League. Such an outcome would cast a shadow over their recent successes, raising questions about the legitimacy of their achievements. Since 2008, when Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Grou...

Japan Cruise to Victory Over China in World Cup Qualifier Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan a comfortable lead in their Group C clash against China, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Endo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a corner opportunity after Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei denied Ritsu Doan’s header moments earlier. The Liverpool midfielder, unmarked on the play, made no mistake with a clinical header off a well-placed ball from Takefusa Kubo. Japan continued to press and create chances. Doan came close to adding a second in the 33rd minute, and Hidemasa Morita hit the side-netting just before halftime. Kaoru Mitoma, just before the break, doubled the lead with a clever header, meeting Doan’s curling center and leaving Wang helpless. The second half saw Japan continue to assert their dominance. Takumi Minamino, set free by Mitoma’s pass, extended their lead in the 52nd minute with a beautiful strike that beat Wang. Minamino secured his brac...

The men’s football final of the Paris 2024 Olympics delivered a thrilling spectacle as Spain and France battled it out for the gold medal. The game ended in a 3-3 draw at the conclusion of normal time, requiring extra time to determine the champion. Spain ultimately emerged victorious, with Camello scoring two crucial goals in extra time to secure their first Olympic men’s football title since 1992. It was a game full of twists and turns. France took an early lead through Enzo Millot, who capitalized on a loose ball in the box and fired it into the top left corner. However, Spain quickly equalized through Fermin Lopez, who found the net with a first-time finish. Lopez then put Spain ahead with his second goal of the game, and Alex Baena extended their lead with a superb free-kick into the top left corner. Paris 2024 Olympics – A dramatic football final saw Spain and France battle it out for gold. Sergio Camello of Spain celebrates scoring their fifth and decisive goal, securing...

In a recent football match between Colombia and Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina, tensions escalated beyond the pitch. Soon after Colombia secured a 1-0 victory, social media erupted with videos depicting an unexpected turn of events. The footage revealed Uruguay players, including Darwin Nunez and Ronald Araujo, climbing into the stands and engaging in physical altercations with opposing fans. Captain Jose Maria Gimenez asserted that the players’ intentions were to protect their families from harm. However, the unrest didn’t end there. A post-match confrontation on the field involved players and staff from both teams, adding fuel to the fiery conclusion of the game. CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, has launched an investigation into the disturbing events. In a statement released on Thursday, they affirmed their zero-tolerance policy towards any acts that mar the spirit of the beautiful game: “We are committed to getting to the bottom of this incident an...

Canada, ranked 48th in world football, brought intensity and physicality to their match against Argentina, but ultimately, it was the Argentinians’ quality that prevailed. With goals from Julian Alvarez and the legendary Lionel Messi, Argentina secured their spot in the final of the Copa America, adding to their recent triumphs at the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America. Head coach Lionel Scaloni expressed the challenges of reaching consecutive finals: “It is extremely tough to reach another final. We know the difficulty of this achievement, and the bar has been set very high.” He also acknowledged the strength of their Canadian opponents: “Everyone expected an easy victory, but Canada proved today that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.” This Copa America holds special significance for many veteran Argentinian players, including Angel di Maria, who announced his plans to retire from international football following the tournament. At 36, Di Maria...

Colombia, who topped Group D with seven points, will face Panama in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought draw against Brazil. It was a match that lived up to its billing, with both sides giving it their all from the get-go. Daniel Munoz’s first-half strike for Colombia canceled out an early, impressive free kick from Brazil’s Raphinha. The result extended Colombia’s unbeaten streak to an impressive 26 games, although it did end their 10-match winning run. Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said of the match, “It was a game we all wanted to play to measure ourselves, and I think we took another step forward today. With Brazil, you can’t afford to take your eye off the ball for a second. We’re satisfied with our performance against a tough opponent, and now we focus on Panama.” Brazil defender Marquinhos acknowledged that the team has room to improve: “We have to be honest with ourselves; we still have a lot of growing to do and a lot to improve, especially in these big games.” The matc...