Vietnamese football needs motivation to surpass Thailand.

The successful FIFA Days period helped the Vietnamese national team return to the top 100 in the world, but ahead remains a long journey as they still lag behind Thailand and need to aim for a higher level.

The 3-1 victory over Malaysia and the perfect record in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers are clear highlights ofthe Vietnamese national teamin the early stage of 2026.

With a perfect 18 points, scoring 17 goals and conceding only twice, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team affirmed their leading regional status during the Asian Cup qualifiers.

The breakthrough to rank 99th in the world, rising 9 places, further demonstrates a strong revival.

But football does not stop at impressive numbers. The reality is that despite being the Southeast Asian champion, Vietnam still ranks behind Thailand on the FIFA table (93 vs. 99). This gap is not large, but sufficient to remind that the regional race is never over.

The loss of Vietnam's U23 team to Thailand's U23 in the CFA Team China friendly tournament, though not heavily significant in terms of result, remains a reminder. It shows that regional rivals always closely pursue, ready to exploit any weakness to advance. That competition comes not only from Thailand, but also from Indonesia, Malaysia, or even rapidly improving teams like Philippines.

From a positive perspective, the victory over Malaysia also partly reflects the true strength of the opponent now without improperly naturalized players. But that does not meanVietnamcan be complacent. In modern football, the skill gap can be narrowed very quickly if a team does not continue to innovate.

Coach Kim Sang Sikis bringing many positive signals with an active, energetic style of play. Players like Nguyễn Xuân Son, Hoàng Hên, or Trương Tiến Anh are creating a new look for the national team. However, to surpass Thailand and further compete in Asia, Vietnam needs more than stability, squad depth, and composure in major matches.

At the 2023 Asian Cup, the Vietnamese national team lost all three group stage matches. That shows when stepping onto the continental stage, opponents like Japan, South Korea, or Iran remain at a completely different level. That gap cannot be bridged solely by regional victories.

The challenge for Vietnamese football now is not only maintaining the top position in Southeast Asia, but also sustainably elevating its standard. Wins against Bangladesh or Malaysia are encouraging, but insufficient to ensure long-term success.

The upcoming two regional tournaments will be an opportunity for coach Kim Sang Sik and his team to further affirm their status and improve their FIFA ranking. More importantly, it is a chance to test their ability to maintain form, experiment with the squad, and refine their playing style.

Vietnamese football is on the right track, but cannot stop yet. Returning to the FIFA top 100 is only the starting step. To surpass Thailand and reach out to the continent, the national team needs greater motivation, not just victories, but the aspiration to conquer new limits.