(From left to right) New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson, national team captain Huỳnh Như, Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski and Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương cut a cake during the farewell party on July 2 in Hà Nội. Photo courtesy of the New Zealand Embassy.

The New Zealand and Australian embassies in Hanoi organised a farewell party on July 2 to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Vietnamese national women's football team and bid good luck to them ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương, the Việt Nam Football Federation General Secretary Dương Nghiệp Khôi, and the national team head coach Mai Đức Chung, as well as five players, attended the event in Hà Nội.

Guests had the chance to meet team members and wish them luck ahead of their historic journey while enjoying some captivating entertainment.

The two ambassadors also presented farewell gifts to the team.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the third most watch sporting event in the world, and a great opportunity to promote women in sport," said Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski.

"I congratulate you all on being part of this incredible sporting occasion. As Prime Ministers (Anthony Norman) Albanese and (Phạm Minh) Chính said at a recent meeting with the team, ‘You are already winners, go and enjoy yourselves – you’ve already made us proud’.”

Meanwhile the New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson, expressed her excitement as the date of departure approaches, saying: “We have been waiting for this day for so long and are delighted to welcome the Vietnamese women’s national football team to Aotearoa New Zealand as the team plays in its first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.

"This reception is a great opportunity to wish them the very best of luck for their historic journey ahead. We know that Việt Nam’s golden girls will do Việt Nam proud and we look forward to people of Aotearoa New Zealand getting to know the fighting spirit that they have displayed in the lead up to this competition.”

At the event, VFF official Khôi also announced that the song Việt Nam Ơi by musician Bùi Quang Minh would be the official song of the team in the World Cup. It would be played in every squad's game during their time in the global football competition.

The national team will arrive in New Zealand with 23 players under coach Mai Đức Chung. Photo of VFF

Also on July 2, coach Chung finalised his 23-member squad for the World Cup.

He put his full belief in the three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and four forwards. Most of them are familiar faces of the team who won gold in the 32nd SEA Games recently and took part in the 2023 World Cup qualification campaign earlier.

The team will depart for New Zealand on July 5 to prepare for the group round where they will have two friendly matches against the hosts and Spain.

Their tournament will begin on July 22 against defending champions the US. The other rivals are Portugal (July 27) and the Netherlands (August 1) in Group E. VNS