Vietnam's futsal team finalizes squad for match against Russia

Right after landing in Thailand and completing their base setup, the Vietnamese futsal squad kicked off their initial practice session ahead of the 2026 Intercontinental Championship Friendly – Thailand.

The training took place at Nonthaburi Stadium, a venue familiar to head coach Diego Raul Giustozzi and his players, as it previously hosted matches for the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship as well as the futsal events at the 33rd SEA Games in late 2025.

The training atmosphere was lively, with the entire team showing a relaxed and enthusiastic spirit. The players had just wrapped up the 2026 HDBank National Futsal Championship season, which helped them maintain good ball control, physical fitness, and movement rhythm. This provided a solid foundation for the coaching staff to quickly implement tactical drills and refine their gameplay within a short period.

During the first training session on the morning of July 31, coach Diego Raul Giustozzi focused on tactical combination drills, enhancing coordination between positions, and testing personnel options for the opening match against Russia on August 1.

The 2026 Continental Championship Friendly – Thailand features five teams: hosts Thailand, Russia, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Vietnam. The teams will compete in a single round-robin format to determine the final standings.

This is considered a high-quality sparring opportunity for the Vietnamese futsal team as they will face strong opponents in succession.

Through this tournament, the coaching staff will gain a better basis to evaluate the squad, finalize the lineup and playing style, thereby aiming for important international goals in the coming time.