From the professional viewpoint of goalkeeper coach Bardi Valdir in an interview with Sports & Culture newspaper (TTXVN), the importance of set pieces today is beyond debate.

Coach John Herdman made a surprising decision by not sitting on the bench for the first 30 minutes of Indonesia's 5-1 victory over Cambodia in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup (AFF Cup) 2026 Group A match at Pakansari Stadium (Bogor) on the evening of July 27.

Written by Nan Nan – Before Typhoon Red Cloud made landfall, the entire Guangdong region was enveloped in a dry, hot air mass. On July 24, at the award ceremony of the 2026 National Youth Women's Football Elite Tournament and the Centennial Schools Cup Women's Football Exchange, Chen Hua, the coach of the junior high school champions, gritted her teeth and endured temperatures close to 38°C to take photos of her players, their faces filled with smiles and the joy of victory.

Written by Han Bing. 2026 marks a successful year for Chinese women's football across all age groups in international competitions. The Chinese women's national teams at the U17, U20, and senior levels all reached the semifinals of the Asian Cup, qualifying for the 2026 U17 and U20 Women's World Cups as well as the 2027 Women's World Cup. The last time Chinese women's football achieved World Cup qualification across all age groups in the same year was 12 years ago, in 2014.

Reporter Wang Wei reports: Last Friday, the 2026 National Youth Women's Football Elite Tournament and the "Century-Old School Cup" Women's Football Exchange Tournament concluded at the International Financial Island Football Park in Guangzhou's Nansha District. Twelve middle and high school women's football teams from eight provinces across the country gathered on the Greater Bay Area field. The six days of high-intensity competition were not only a test of skills but also a collective expression of the voices of the new generation of young female football players.

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir admitted that the Indonesian national team has not yet shown their true level despite defeating Cambodia 5-1.

According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, despite acknowledging that the Malaysian team is superior in skill and football development infrastructure, Laos head coach Vladica Grujic asserted that his players are capable of springing a surprise when the two sides meet in Group B of the ASEAN Cup 2026 on the evening of July 28.

In the vast ocean of football, Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the brightest stars. Like an experienced captain, he steers the Portuguese ship through the green battlefield. However, a sudden "storm at sea" recently came not from an opponent, but from one of Europe's largest low-cost airlines - Ryanair.

Hue and PVF excellently overcame the semi-finals to secure their spots in the National U17 Championship final.

China's decision not to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 has thrown the tournament's organization into turmoil, including affecting Vietnam's preparations.