Vietnam's national football team have climbed five places to 103rd in the latest FIFA rankings, moving closer to a return to the world’s top 100.

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According to the Vietnam Football Federation, the improvement comes after points were restored following developments in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification.

The Asian Football Confederation ruled that Malaysia forfeited two matches - against Nepal and Vietnam - with 0-3 scorelines due to player eligibility violations. As a result, Vietnam regained 13.91 points, bringing their total to 1,213.62 points.

Meanwhile, Malaysia national football team were heavily penalised, losing around 50 ranking points and dropping 14 places to 135th globally. The decision also saw Malaysia relinquish top spot in Group F, with Vietnam taking the lead and boosting their chances of qualifying for the Asian Cup finals.

The Vietnamese team have regrouped and resumed training for upcoming fixtures during the FIFA Days window. They are set to face Bangladesh national football team in a friendly on March 26 at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, before hosting Malaysia on March 31 at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh province.

Positive results in these matches are expected to further improve Vietnam’s ranking and strengthen their bid to re-enter the global top 100.

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