The Vietnam national football team celebrated a significant achievement after securing a 2-0 victory against Malaysia in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinals. This win not only propelled them into the finals but also resulted in an increase of 1.83 points in the FIFA rankings, moving them up to 98th place globally with a total of 1,234.34 points.

Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik, the team has shown impressive progress, especially after having dropped to 119th place in October 2024. The highest ranking in the history of Vietnamese football was 92nd, achieved in August 2021. In the Southeast Asian region, Thailand remains at the top despite losing 3.4 points after their defeat to Singapore in the other semifinal.

If Vietnam triumphs in the upcoming finals against Thailand, they could further improve their FIFA ranking, currently trailing Guatemala, which holds the 97th position by just four points. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is set to take place in September and is expected to bring significant changes to the rankings, as it allows teams to field their strongest squads.

Vietnam is placed in Group B along with Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan, while Group A includes Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore. The top two teams from each group will advance to the finals, with the tournament champion receiving a prize of $1 million, three times the amount awarded for the ASEAN Cup 2026.