The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) plans to test a Nations League in the 2028–2029 season. The proposal could change Vietnam's route to the World Cup and Asian Cup.
According to ESPN, the AFC plans to present the Nations League proposal to member associations on October 6. The tournament is intended to be held every two years from 2030 and linked directly to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying rather than run as a separate competition.
The AFC plans to divide national teams into three divisions. The first and second divisions would each have 18 teams, while the third would have 11 teams split into three groups. There would be no regional division of teams, unlike some current competitions.
The changes could significantly affect Vietnam because its place in the three-division system would shape its route to major tournaments. The AFC would also use results from the 2028–2029 transition qualifying stage for the grouping, rather than relying entirely on the FIFA ranking. Vietnam is currently ranked 99th by FIFA and 17th by the AFC.
Under the proposal, the Nations League would have two versions linked to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying. The first World Cup version is planned for the 2032–2033 season. Teams in the top division would play 12 matches, six at home and six away.
The top six teams in the first division would qualify directly for the World Cup. Teams finishing seventh to tenth would play a round-robin stage for the two remaining places. The top two in that group would qualify, while the third would enter an intercontinental playoff. This distribution assumes that the 2034 World Cup will retain the 48-team format used in 2026.
The proposed format differs substantially from the 2026 World Cup qualifying system. In the previous round, 18 teams were divided into three groups of six. The top two teams in each group qualified directly, while teams finishing third and fourth continued into another round for additional places.
Under the Nations League, staying in the top division and competing near the top of the table would become more important. A team outside the top six could still reach the World Cup, but it would have to play an additional round against strong teams from the top division.
The Asian Cup version of the Nations League is planned to begin in 2030, as the AFC has proposed moving the Asian Cup from 2031 to 2032. Teams would play six matches, three at home and three away.
All teams in the top division and the six highest-ranked teams in the second division would qualify for the Asian Cup. A Nations League position would therefore affect both World Cup qualifying and access to the continental tournament.
Each Nations League version would also include a competition to determine a champion. The top eight teams in the first division would enter the knockout stage. The quarterfinals would be played over two legs, followed by the semifinals and final at a central venue.
The proposal also includes promotion and relegation. The top two teams in each division would move up, while the bottom two would move down. In addition, the next four lowest teams in the higher division would play the next four highest teams in the lower division in playoffs.
This could significantly change Vietnam's position in the system. In the top division, Vietnam would have the chance to face Asia's strongest teams regularly but would also have a tougher schedule. In the second division, the Asian Cup route could be easier because its top six teams would qualify, but access to World Cup places would be less favorable.
The AFC does not plan to divide teams into East, Southeast, West and Central Asian zones. It said differences in the number of teams and competitive levels between regions were reasons to drop the regional format. Teams would be placed in seeding pots, and an algorithm would build a balanced schedule.
The AFC also rejected a plan for a Nations League completely separate from World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying. The limited number of international match dates and the cost of staging competitions were cited as the main obstacles. The new Nations League would therefore be integrated into the existing qualifying system.
Before the main competition begins, the AFC plans to hold a trial tournament in the 2028–2029 season. At this stage, World Cup qualifying would retain three groups of six teams in the top division. The top two teams in each group would qualify directly for the 2030 World Cup.
The change would affect the teams below the leaders. The next four best-performing teams would enter a playoff, instead of only the teams finishing third and fourth as in the 2026 World Cup qualifying model. The top two playoff teams would qualify, while the third would retain a chance through an intercontinental playoff.
The trial results would be used to determine the divisions for the official 2030 Nations League. The AFC plans to apply promotion, relegation and playoffs during the trial to refine the structure.
For Vietnam, the proposal could make every match more consequential. Results would affect not only qualification for a World Cup or Asian Cup in a given cycle, but also Vietnam's place in the AFC competition system in later cycles.
The proposal still needs to be considered by the member associations. If approved, the Nations League would be the biggest change to Asia's national-team competition system.
Sources: VnExpress
