Southeast Asian Giants Secure Passage into Quarter-Finals

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The script for Group B of the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup has been written in the colors of Southeast Asia. On a high-octane Thursday at the Jakarta International Velodrome, both Thailand and Vietnam officially punched their tickets to the knockout stages, turning the final group match into a heavyweight battle for regional supremacy.

Vietnam set the tone early in the day, grinding out a disciplined 2–0 victory over Lebanon. Coach Diego Giustozzi’s men wasted no time, as Dinh Cong Vien found the net just one minute after the opening whistle. By the fifth minute, Vu Ngoc Anh doubled the lead, finishing a clinical long-range distribution from goalkeeper Pham Van Tu.

Despite a tense second half where Vietnam was forced to play with a man down for two minutes, following a second yellow card for Duong Ngoc Linh their "well-organized wall" held firm against a desperate Lebanese power-play.

If Vietnam’s win was about grit, Thailand’s was about pure firepower. The reigning continental runners-up dismantled Kuwait with a 6–1 scoreline. The star of the show was undoubtedly Muhammad Osamanmusa, who delivered a clinical performance by netting four goals.

Thailand’s dominance not only secured their own progression but also mathematically eliminated Kuwait and Lebanon, simultaneously confirming Vietnam's advancement before they even stepped onto the bus back to the hotel.

While both teams are safe, the drama is far from over. On Saturday, January 31, Thailand and Vietnam will face off at the prestigious Indonesia Arena to decide the Group B winner.

The stakes are higher than just bragging rights. The winner of Group B will likely avoid a quarter-final clash with the hosts, Indonesia, who have been in scintillating form in Group A. With memories of their recent 2–1 battle at the SEA Games still fresh, the Jakarta crowd is expecting nothing less than a tactical chess match played at 100 miles per hour.