Huỳnh Như is absent, the Vietnamese women's national football team convenes to conquer the 20th Asian Games.

The Vietnamese women's team will assemble at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center on August 7 to begin training for the women's football competition at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled for September in Japan.

For this training camp, head coach Hoàng Văn Phúc has called up a squad consisting of many experienced players combined with promising young talents. The coaching staff will focus on reviewing the squad, improving physical fitness, and refining the playing style before finalizing the official roster for the games.

In the early days, the whole team will undergo physical assessments and accumulate fitness before moving on to tactical drills and friendly matches. This is considered a crucial phase for the players to reach peak form for the continent's biggest arena.

The challenge for the Vietnamese women's team at the 2026 Asian Games is significant, as the draw placed them in Group A alongside hosts Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand. This is considered one of the toughest groups in the tournament, bringing together three strong opponents in Asian women's football.

Among them, Japan is the top contender for the gold medal. With home advantage and a world-class squad, the Japanese team is considered far superior to the rest of the group. Therefore, the realistic goal for the Vietnamese women's team is to play tightly, minimize goals conceded to avoid a disadvantage in goal difference.

Meanwhile, the competition for the remaining quarterfinal spot will likely be between Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand. Chinese Taipei has always been a tough opponent with a physical and disciplined style of play, while Thailand is a long-standing rival of Vietnamese women's football. Although Vietnam has often had better results in recent encounters, the gap between the two teams is not wide.

According to the competition format, the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals. This means that the opportunity remains open for coach Hoàng Văn Phúc's team if they achieve positive results against Chinese Taipei and Thailand, while limiting goals conceded against Japan.

The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The women's football event will start earlier, from September 14, and conclude on October 2.

With more than a month of preparation, the Vietnamese women's team will have additional time to perfect their squad and playing style. The group ahead is a big challenge, but also an opportunity for the team to assert their mettle and aim for a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Games.