Vietnamese President To Lam has appealed to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to significantly enhance its support for the development of Vietnam’s national football program. During a recent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, President To Lam outlined a comprehensive vision for advancing the sport in Vietnam, encompassing a wide range of areas from professional training to infrastructure.
President To Lam specifically requested FIFA’s continued assistance in the training of coaches and referees, the strengthening of professional skills, and the enhancement of football management capabilities. Furthermore, he emphasized the critical need to foster the development of women’s football, school-based football, grassroots initiatives, professional leagues, and the overall improvement of the national teams.
These discussions took place in Hanoi during FIFA President Infantino’s visit to Vietnam, where he also attended the second leg of the ASEAN Cup final between Vietnam and Thailand on August 26th. Seizing this opportunity, President To Lam met with the FIFA chief to call for closer cooperation with the world’s premier football governing body in developing robust football infrastructure, nurturing human resources, and enhancing Vietnam’s competitiveness on the international stage.
Acknowledging FIFA’s pivotal role in promoting football globally, President To Lam expressed gratitude for the organization’s past support for Vietnamese football. He highlighted football’s immense popularity in Vietnam, seeing it not just as a sport but as a powerful tool for connecting communities, inspiring the populace, and fostering a spirit of solidarity.
President To Lam further informed Mr. Infantino about Vietnam’s ambitious plans to develop football infrastructure within schools, ensuring access to adequate and standardized facilities for student physical education. Additionally, Vietnam intends to establish dedicated training centers for promising young footballers and construct a network of large, modern stadiums designed to meet international standards.
During their dialogue, the Vietnamese leader, who assumed his top position earlier in 2026, urged FIFA to support Vietnam in exploring the feasibility of hosting various competitions under the FIFA umbrella. He suggested that once infrastructure and related conditions are adequately improved, Vietnam could progressively consider hosting major events it has not previously organized.
In response, Mr. Infantino expressed FIFA’s strong commitment to providing high-level support for the development of Vietnamese football. The head of world football noted his deep impression of the Vietnamese people’s passionate support for the sport and commended the Southeast Asian nation for its significant potential in football development.
“FIFA is ready to accompany Vietnam and share its experiences, offering high-level support in infrastructure, technical expertise, and training for community and youth football, while also assisting in improving future football management and infrastructure,” Infantino stated to President To Lam.
On August 27th, the final day of his two-day visit to Vietnam, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accompanied by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) President Tran Quoc Tuan, inspected the construction site of the PVF stadium, which is planned to have a seating capacity of 60,000.
