Preparations underway for 2026 International Friendly Football Tournament in Ninh Binh
On the morning of 15 October, at the headquarters of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), in coordination with the local Organising Committee, held a meeting to discuss preparations for the 2026 International Friendly Football Tournament. The meeting aimed to finalise plans, assign responsibilities and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place for the tournament to be held safely and efficiently, meeting fans’ expectations for enjoying football and cheering on the national team.
Attending the meeting on behalf of the VFF were General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu and representatives of relevant departments. Local representatives included Nguyen Tan Anh, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports, along with leaders and representatives from the Department of Health, Ninh Binh Newspaper and Radio-Television, the Nam Dinh Ward People’s Committee, Xuan Thien Sports Joint Stock Company, and other relevant departments, agencies and organisations.
In his opening remarks, Nguyen Tan Anh, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports, emphasised the importance of coordination between the local authorities and the VFF in preparing for and organising international matches at Thien Truong Stadium. He also called on all relevant units to proactively carry out their assigned tasks in accordance with the established plan.
On behalf of the VFF, General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu expressed his gratitude to the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and local agencies and organisations for their support and cooperation. He also praised the province’s facilities and its coordination in hosting international matches involving national teams in recent years, notably the match between Vietnam and Malaysia in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in March 2026.
General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu emphasised that the series of friendly matches during the November 2026 FIFA Days would play an important role in Vietnam’s preparations for upcoming international assignments, including the AFC Asian Cup 2027 finals. The VFF looks forward to continued close cooperation with the local authorities to ensure the tournament’s successful organisation and provide the best possible conditions for the national team.
At the meeting, representatives of the VFF’s specialist departments presented detailed plans for the tournament and discussed with relevant organisations matters relating to technical operations, facilities, security, safety, medical services, logistics, communications, sponsorship and matchday arrangements. Participants focused on reviewing assigned responsibilities, establishing clear points of contact and agreeing on coordination timelines ahead of the tournament.
In his concluding remarks, Nguyen Tan Anh called on all relevant units to promptly finalise their assigned tasks and strengthen coordination with the VFF, particularly in ensuring security, safety and the necessary conditions for the successful organisation of the tournament.
The 2026 International Friendly Football Tournament is scheduled to take place from 11 to 15 November 2026 at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh Province, featuring the Vietnam national team, Chinese Taipei and the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the fixture schedule, Vietnam will face Chinese Taipei at 19:00 on 11 November and the Kyrgyz Republic at 19:00 on 15 November, while Chinese Taipei will take on the Kyrgyz Republic at 19:00 on 13 November.
The tournament is part of Vietnam’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 finals, alongside planned training camps and international friendly matches. These activities aim to assess the squad, improve technical performance and ensure the team is fully prepared for Asia’s premier national-team competition.
