Opening of the 2026 Community Football Instructor Training Course: A Starting Point for Vietnamese Women's Football

On the morning of October 23, in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), in coordination with the Can Tho City Football Federation, officially opened the 2026 Community Football Instructor Training Course. The course runs for 3 days, from October 23 to October 25, with technical support from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This activity is part of the community women's football development program, targeting girls aged 6 to 9. The training course is designed to equip trainees with community football coaching principles, focusing on creating a fun, positive environment without emphasizing competitive results. According to the organizers, the program's philosophy is to encourage children's natural development through physical activities and basic football skills, rather than applying pressure about outcomes. Upon completion, trainees will receive a certificate of completion issued by VFF and return to schools and localities to implement community football activities for girls. The course content includes modules on community coaching principles, the SMILES and STEPS methods, as well as in-depth discussions on barriers to girls' participation in football. Trainees are also guided in planning football festival lesson plans and practicing task assignment in community activities. Notably, the training course does not provide any specific information on the number of trainees, total budget, or the ratio of instructors to children reached. The choice of Can Tho as the venue is considered a strategic decision to expand the reach of women's football beyond traditional northern hubs. In the context of the Vietnam women's national team facing an aging squad issue after its first FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in 2026, expanding the talent pool from southern provinces is seen as a necessary direction to ensure the long-term sustainability of women's football. However, analysts have pointed out several limitations. First, the three-day course with a certificate of completion sets a ceiling on the professional competence trainees can achieve. Second, the program is limited to ages 6 to 9 with no clear transition plan for the 10+ age group, creating a gap in the talent development pipeline. Third, the lack of information on trainee numbers, budget, and assessment methods makes it impossible to determine the program's actual effectiveness. On the financial side, the article does not disclose any specific figures regarding the program budget, UEFA/AFC contributions, VFF, or Can Tho Football Federation contributions. UEFA/AFC support is described as "supported by" without specifying whether it is financial, technical, or in-kind. This makes it impossible to assess the cost-effectiveness of the program. Nevertheless, the training course is assessed as aligned with AFC and FIFA community football development standards. Not emphasizing competitive results at ages 6 to 9 is the correct approach under the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, where the 6-9 age band is considered the "FUNdamentals" stage - focusing on movement skill development and enjoyment rather than competition. This approach is also consistent with UEFA and AFC grassroots coach education programs. A notable point is that the training course takes place in October 2026 but is branded "2026," indicating it is a preparatory activity for the 2026 planning cycle. This reflects VFF's methodical approach in preparing resources before deployment, rather than organizing for appearance. However, if UEFA/AFC support is renewed only on short cycles, the program will struggle to accompany a generation of players from ages 6-9 through to the 10-13 development stage - where the decision on children's long-term engagement with football is made. On governance, the training course is assessed as aligned with AFC community football development obligations but falls short in addressing child protection issues. With participants being girls aged 6 to 9, the absence of information on child protection measures, parental consent, and medical insurance is a point that needs to be added in subsequent training courses. Overall, the 2026 Community Football Instructor Training Course in Can Tho is a meaningful activity in expanding the participation base for women's football in Vietnam. However, for the program to truly create sustainable impact, more information is needed on scale, budget, assessment methods, and especially a transition plan for girls after age 9. The lack of this information means the current course is seen as a necessary starting activity but insufficient to create systemic change in Vietnamese women's football.