UAE referee to officiate in Vietnam-Iraq World Cup qualifier match: AFC
Omar Al Ali, a referee from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will officiate in the final match between Vietnam and Iraq in the second qualifiers of the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced.
Hanoi (VNA) – Omar Al Ali, a referee꧑ from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will offic🐎iate in the final match between Vietnam and Iraq in the second qualifiers of the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced.
The match will take place in Iraq at 9 pm on June 11 (local time). In the first leg at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam lost 0-1 to Iraq.
As the goal scorer of two of the three goal win against the Philippines during the 2026 World Cup qualifier last week, Vietnam's striker Nguyen Tien Linh has been named one of best players by the AFC.
"With only one win from their first four matches, Vietnam looked set to crash out of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, but under new head coach Kim Sang-sik, they defeated the Philippines 3-2 in a thriller to keep their hopes alive in Group F – with Nguyen Tien Linh providing the impetus with a double in the comeback victory," the AFC wrote on its website.
"Linh, who scored eight goals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and six times in Vietnam's run into the 2022 AFF Championship final, opened his account with the Golden Star Warriors’ equaliser in the 65th minute before planting a towering header past Azkals' goalkeeper Neil Etheridge 11 minutes later."
The win left Vietnam in third place after Indonesia, separated by just one point as they head into their final match against group leaders Iraq.
The second round will conclude with the final set of fixtures on June 12, with only five spots available for teams.
Vietnam need to beat the hosts and wait for the Philippines' to take a win over Indonesia to qualify for the next stage.
Other players that caught the AFC's attention were forward Koki Ogawa (Japan), centre back Husniddin Aliqulov (Uzbekistan), forward Son Heung-min (Republic of Korea), right winger Abdulrahman Al Mushaifri (Oman), forward Yazan Al Naimat (Jordan), forward Behram Abduweli (China) and forward Ali Jasim (Iraq)./.
Vietnam’s 3-2 win over the Philippines in the World Cup qualifier on June 6 evening has caught attention from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Asian media.
Vietnam came back from time to time to secure a 3-2 victory over the Philippines in the World Cup qualifier at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on June 6 evening.
Vietnam lost to Indonesia by a goal to nil in their third match of Group F in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on March 21.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
